Another Negros Occ. mayor contracts COVID

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Another mayor in Negros Occidental was infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Victorias City Mayor Frederick Palanca is the third local chief executive to contract the virus.

Mayors Marvin Malacon of EB Magalona and Jose Maria Alonso of Pontevedra were the first to be infected and have fully recovered from the disease.

In an interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, Palanca said he tested positive for the virus and was hospitalized Wednesday last week after showing symptoms of the illness.

He was discharged from the hospital Sunday but opted to self-quarantine in an isolation facility.

Aside from him, his secretary, security aide, a member of his staff, and driver who accompanied him to Bacolod were also infected.

The mayor said that before falling ill, he went to Bacolod City to renew his firearms license.

He and five of his staff visited at least three places on board a van.

The mayor theorized that he may have been infected in any of the three places he visited or one of his staff in the van may have already been infected.
Palanca said that when they returned to Victorias City, all of them started having sore throat, one of the symptoms of the coronavirus infection.
The mayor said he had himself tested at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City on Tuesday.