A job order casual at the provincial-government managed Negros First Food Terminal in Bacolod City died from the coronavirus disease, making him the second fatality of the virus at the Capitol.
Following the death of the job order casual employee, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday placed the Negros First Food Terminal, locally known as “pala-pala”, on lockdown, for disinfection and decontamination purposes.
“What is also more important is contact tracing,” Lacson added.
Lucille Gelvolea, head of the Economic Enterprise Development Division that manages the facility, yesterday said that all 20 employees and guards assigned to the food terminal were already swabbed.
“The personnel showed no symptoms,” Gelvolea added.
“Hopefully, they are all clear. If not, we will have to place them in quarantine centers,” Lacson said, apparently referring to those who had close contact with the victim.
Gelvolea said the job order casual was admitted to a hospital, after he collapsed in his house on Nov. 22.
Renelo Lastierre, head of the Capitol Security Office, yesterday said the job order employee, who is a resident of Brgy. 18 in Bacolod City, was in charge of keeping the logbook for the pala-pala facility.
Lastierre admitted they were surprised that the victim, who died due to brain aneurysm, tested positive for COVID-19.
The first COVID fatality at the Provincial Capitol was a regular employee assigned as a watchman at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. He died in August.
With the lockdown of the food terminal facility, Lastierre said the guards were prohibited from returning to their homes, pending the release of the swab test results.
He also assured them that their needs will be taken care of, while they stay at the terminal.
Lacson said he will look into how the Capitol can help the family of the employee.
“It’s again a constant reminder that COVID-19 is still around,” Lacson said.*GPB
