Angeles City mayor tests positive for COVID-19

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. inspects the vaccination inside the city’s mobile bus clinic. (Photo from the Angeles City government)

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga—Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the city information office disclosed on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

In a statement, the city government said Lazatin, Jr. started having symptoms Wednesday morning, which included coughs and colds. He was taken to the Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Irish Calaguas, Lazatin’s chief advisor, said the city government was able to identify eight people who came in close contact with the mayor a day before he was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Calaguas said the close contacts, who were asked to undergo self-quarantine and swab tests after five days, were one of Lazatin’s executive assistants, his personal assistants, a driver, and security personnel.

“The said individuals had close contact with Mayor Lazatin for at least two hours,” she said.

On Tuesday, Lazatin mingled with many people in his city.

He boarded the city government’s mobile bus clinic in the morning to inspect the “Ronda Bakuna” program, then went to the City Colleges of Angeles to see the regular vaccination there for residents.

After inspecting the vaccination activities, the mayor proceeded to Pulung Maragul and Lourdes Sur East villages to lead the distribution of vaccination forms to residents.

Lazatin also led the lighting of Christmas lanterns along Abacan Bridge in Balibago village and Friendship Bridge in Anunas village late in the afternoon until evening.

Calaguas said Lazatin would remain in charge of the city government while confined in a hospital.

The mayor was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in June.

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