BACOLOD CITY—More government offices and health facilities in Negros Occidental are going on lockdown as COVID-19 cases continued to surge in the province.
Mayor Neil Lizares said the new Talisay City Hall would be closed on Monday (April 12) and Tuesday (April 13) while contact tracing and disinfection are underway.
An employee assigned to the Talisay City Public Market tested positive for SARS Cov2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and contact tracing showed that the person had gone to the Talisay City Hall.
Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson, who tested positive for SARS Cov2, also ordered the lockdown of the Himamaylan City Hall, the city healtho office and village health centers for seven days starting last Saturday (April 10) to prevent coronavirus transmission.
Mayor Rhumyla Nicor Mangilimutan said the La Castellana municipal hall will be closed from Monday (April 12) to Wednesday (April 14) for disinfection as government employees were instructed to work from home after a La Castellana municipal employee and several village officials tested positive for SARS Cov2.
Department heads and employees performing essential jobs, however, may be required to report for work when necessary.
In Toboso town, Mayor Richard Jaojoco said the town’s rural health unit was closed on Monday (April 12) and stay closed on Tuesday (April 13) for disinfection after health workers tested positive for SARS Cov2.
A seven-day lockdown will be enforced in Sitio Polopangyan at the village of Bug-ang, from April 12 to 18 because of the rise in COVID-19 cases, Jaojoco said.
The lockdown in Bug-ang will be extended to April 18 because of the increase in COVID-19 cases.
The Valladolid municipal government also announced that its health office, including the birthing clinic, was closed starting on Saturday until further notice.
In an announcement, the municipal government said the town’s midwives had tested positive for SARS Cov2 and several staffers and patients were considered as close contacts.
The municipal health office and birthing facility of Hinigaran town will also temporarily close from Monday to Wednesday after one of its staff members tested positive for the virus.
TSB