BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Education Division Office in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, has been temporarily closed since October 14 for disinfection after four of its personnel tested positive for COVID-19, disclosed yesterday by City Executive Assistant Dionelo Bogtae.
Bogtae, who is the head also of Sipalay Emergency Assistance and Rescue Services, said that contract tracing is now ongoing to other close contacts of the DepEd personnel infected by the virus.
The Sipalay City Health Office, according to a DepEd personnel who tested negative for infection, yesterday said that those fully vaccinated may report for work seven days after, while those who got their first dose of vaccine, as well as unvaccinated may stay at their respective homes for 14 days before going back to work.
Work from home arrangement has been also recommended for those observing a 14-day quarantine.
The Sipalay City Birthing Unit, which was temporarily closed on October 12 for disinfection purposes after some of its personnel also tested positive for COVID-19, has already resumed operations.
On the other hand, the Sipalay City government procured four units of ambulances to further strengthen its emergency response services.
Two of the four brand new vehicles has been issued to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) for its emergency response operations and for COVID-19 transport operations., while the others are up for utilization by the City Health Office (CHO) for the referrals of the non-COVID related patients and other emergency operations.*
