Guv in isolation after mayor contracts COVID

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson went into isolation after Kabankalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco tested positive for COVID-19

This was confirmed by Provincial Inter Agency Task Force action office Rayfrando Diaz Monday.

Diaz said Zayco attended the Love Negros fellowship meeting on Sept. 18 at the Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City which was also attended by Rep Jose Francisco Benitez and his brother, former 3rd District congressman Alfredo Benitez; Abang Lingkod Partylist Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano, and several mayors, among others.

Jake Gonzales, Kabankalan City Information Officer, said Mayor Zayco, who is now being confined to a private hospital in Bacolod City, is feeling well.

The Kabankalan City Mayor’s Office has been temporarily closed until further notice pending the results of the RT-PCR testing of employees scheduled on Sept. 22, Gonzales said.

A second Delta variant case was also confirmed in the city.

Former Rep. Benitez, who is now also in isolation, advised those who attended the Love-Negros meeting to self-isolate until they are tested for COVID-19.

The municipal government of Binalbagan also issued an advisory on the temporary closure of its Accounting, Treasurer, Local Registrar, and Business and Licensing offices, to give way to contact tracing effective Sept. 20.