Moises Padilla offices locked down as two employees contract COVID

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental ordered Monday the temporary lockdown of several offices at the municipal government after two employees tested positive of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

The closure was mandated by Executive Order No. 50.

Yulo told Daily Guardian that 90 municipal employees were swabbed for COVID testing Monday.

All government employees who underwent swab testing were required to go on quarantine to ensure the health and safety of the public.

The closure affected the offices of the Municipal Mayor, Social Welfare and Development, Accountant, Assessor, Local Civil Registrar, Engineering, Treasurer, Budget, and Economic Enterprise.

Employees of the said offices were directed to work from home until they test negative for the virus.

Employees who fail to abide by the order will be subjected to appropriate action, both criminal and administrative in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the mayor said.

The first positive case is a 52-year-old female with travel history to Binalbagan and sought consultation at the Municipal Health Infirmary last Dec 3, 2020. Her chief complaints were fever and cough. She also tested positive in the Rapid Diagnostic Test.

The second case was a 23-year-old male Coast Guard officer with travel history to Zamboanga City and arrived in the town last Dec 2. He is asymptomatic.

He is presently quarantined at the EB Magalona Healing Center.

“Both took the RT-PCR test on December 2 which resulted in positive results but are from different offices,” Yulo said.

The mayor said contact tracing is still going on.