More COVID-19 infections hit Pagibig office in Legazpi City

LEGAZPI CITY –– More positive cases for the coronavirus disease were reported among the employees of the Pag-Ibig Fund Office in this city, which was placed on lockdown on Saturday, Jan. 31, after a worker was infected with the virus, the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol said.

A DOH tracker said that from the 13 infections reported on Wednesday, Feb. 3, there were now 24 active COVID-19 cases recorded at the Pag-ibig office, with 11 more people getting sick of the virus.

Dr. Ernie Vera, DOH regional director and vice-chair of the Interagency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease in Bicol, has issued an advisory asking those who have visited the Pagibig office from Jan. 20 to 30 to contact or call their nearest health facility for a health assessment to determine possible exposure.

Vera, however, said those who have been contact traced were already told to strictly follow the advice of their health providers.

The city IATF was still determining if there was a breach of the health protocol in the office.

The DOH tracker on Thursday, Feb. 5, said 598 active cases in Bicol brought to 4,437 the total number of cases in the region since March last year, with 3,658 recoveries (82 percent), and 181 deaths.

Camarines Sur province had the biggest number of cases, with 1,162 or 26 percent; followed by Naga City with 749 patients or 16.8 percent; Masbate – 643 (14 percent); Albay – 558 (12 percent); Sorsogon – 531 (11.9 percent); Legazpi City – 457 (10 percent); Catanduanes – 168 cases (3.7 percent); Camarines Norte – 163 patients (3.6 percent); and others (transient), with six.

LZB