Tourism, health offices in Eastern Visayas closed due to COVID-19

TACLOBAN CITY –– The continued rising cases of COVID-19 in Eastern Samar have prompted some offices to suspend their operations after the virus infected some employees.

One of these is the regional office of the Department of Tourism in Eastern Visayas (DOT-8), which had shut down its operation after its entire staff was exposed to a COVID-19 patient.

“To ensure continued public service, all office personnel will be in a work from home mode starting Thursday, June 10, until further notice,” the DOT advisory said.

Two priests were also placed on isolation after testing positive of COVID-19, said Fr. Chris Arthur Militante, spokesperson of the Palo Archdiocese in Leyte.

The rural health unit in Maripipi town in Biliran also closed its operations indefinitely after its medical staff members were exposed to a COVID-19 patient.

In Lawaan, Samar, the vaccination program was suspended due to increasing COVID-19 cases.

Lawaan had 102 cases with six deaths due to COVID-19 complications.

Jelyn Lopez-Malibago, DOH-8 information officer, urged Lawaan officials to continue their vaccination drive despite the rising cases.

“There are instances when the vaccination is suspended, especially if a member of the vaccination team is identified as a close contact,” she said.

“But we are encouraging LGUs (local government units) to continue with the vaccination rollout, especially now that we are experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases. We need to protect as many (people) as possible,” Lopez-Malibago added.

On June 11, the Department of Health reported 412 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the region’s total to 23,748 since the start of the pandemic last year.

It also reported five deaths – two from Sogod town, Southern Leyte; two from Calbayog City, Samar; and one from Matuguinao town in Samar.

LZB