BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has ordered the temporary closure of the Bacolod Government Center (BGC) grounds effective March 29 until April 4.

This came after Bacolod City recorded 33 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, March 29, the highest number of new cases in the city in a day since last week of November 2020.

Of the number, seven are nurses, one doctor and others are close contacts and admitted in a hospital.

Leonardia, in a video message, said that due to the sudden spike of Covid-19 cases in the city, effective March 29 until April 4, the BGC grounds will be temporarily closed.

He said in previous weeks, the city also recorded about 20 to 25 Covid-19 cases a day which had not happened for a long time.

The mayor noted that it was on November 8, 2020 that the city recorded 40 Covid-19 cases in a day.

“We are hopeful that our people will understand us. This is a preventive measure, this is not a lockdown,” Leonardia said.

As of March 29, Bacolod City has a total of 6, 037 Covid-19 cases. Of the number, 5, 652 patients already recovered, 198 active cases with 187 deaths.

Leonardia said last month, the city’s Covid-19 active cases already dropped to 24 and not its 198 active cases.

“Please continue to strictly follow health protocols and avoid social gatherings. For now, we are also lacking hospital beds because some of the health workers were also tested positive of the virus,” he said.

Moreover, Leonardia said they are also finalizing the executive order to regulate the beaches especially on the celebration of Easter Sunday on April 4.

He said it has been observed that during that day, thousands of people were having parties on beaches so they wanted to regulate it.

He added that they will also discuss even the coffee shops and resorts in the area of Barangay Alangilan.

The mayor said these are their plans to prevent the spread of the virus and to avoid the sudden spike of Covid-19 cases in the city.