ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan—The former mayor and the current vice mayor of this western Pangasinan city both tested positive for SARS Cov2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
In a statement on Wednesday (March 17), former Mayor Arthur Celeste said he got infected though he took all precaution and heeded health protocols.
Celeste, also former representative of the first district, said he did not have any symptoms but went on quarantine for monitoring of his condition.
His family members and close contacts were negative for the virus.
Vice Mayor Anton Perez said he could have been exposed to an infected person during a meeting in Alabang, Metro Manila last March 7.
“We removed our masks because we ate and had coffee while meeting,” said Perez.
“He did not tell me that he had himself tested because he came from a trip. I was informed that night that the result was positive and that he exhibited some symptoms like itchy throat,” Perez said in a separate statement.
Perez also went on quarantine until March 9 when he had had flu-like symptoms and got himself tested on March 10.
The results, which came out on March 11, showed he was positive for the virus.
Perez said all of his close contacts had tested negative for the virus.