Rep. Roger Mercado (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
TACLOBAN CITY––Rep. Roger Mercado of Southern Leyte has tested positive for COVID-19.
He was asymptomatic, according to his son and Maasin City Mayor Naccional Mercado.
Naccional said his 70-year-old father underwent a swab test as a requirement for his dental surgery.
The test result, which was released Sunday, showed that Roger had the virus.
Naccional said contact tracing was being conducted among those who had face-to-face contact with his father.
“We will surely exhaust all our efforts and take all the possible measures for the safety and security of all Maasinhons,” he said.
Southern Leyte is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, especially in Maasin and the town of Macrohon.
Maasin has 101 active cases, while Macrohon town has 130.
Macrohon Mayor Alan Jose Aroy ordered the temporary closure of the entire municipal building beginning Monday, Sept. 6, until further notice after some of the employees tested positive for COVID-19.