BACOLOD CITY –– The Kabankalan City Hall in Negros Occidental was closed to people since Friday, Nov. 20, after at least 18 employees tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Mayor Pedro Zayco said contact tracing was immediately conducted to identify and isolate those who had close contacts with the persons who contracted the virus.
He said at least 127 more employees and locally stranded individuals had undergone swab tests to determine if they have COVID-19.
Zayco and the city budget officer also underwent swab tests after they were exposed to the city’s assistant engineer, who had died of COVID-19.
Both of them tested negative for the virus.
The mayor said the Department of Interior and Local Government advised him to temporarily close their City Hall to avert the spread of the virus.
Zayco said when offices resume on Thursday, only 50 percent would be allowed to report back to work, while others would work from home.
He appealed to his constituents to observe all health protocols like proper wearing of face masks and face shields, practicing physical distancing, and staying indoors when there is nothing important to do outside.
As of Sunday, Kabankalan City has 429 COVID-19 patients, including 53 active cases, 369 recoveries, and seven deaths.