BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The offices of the Vice Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan legislative staff were again placed on lockdown yesterday after a technical assistant of a board member was tested positive for COVID-19.
Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer yesterday said that the temporary closure of these offices will pave the way for the disinfection and decontamination for several days.
Employees assigned in these offices were advised not to report for work yesterday afternoon.
Ferrer, however, said that the employees assigned at the SP administrative offices located at the basement of the Capitol’s south wing will continue to hold office.
On August 4, the same offices were placed on lockdown after a technical assistant of a board member was also tested positive for the virus.
Ferrer said that their normal operations will resume Tuesday next week.
Two weeks ago, a watchman assigned at the Capitol South Wing died of COVID-19.
As a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19, the SP has been holding virtual sessions for three weeks now.
Meanwhile, Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. has issued an executive order placing barangays of Aguisan, Saraet, and Sitio Punta Talaban in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, under strict public health safety protocol effective yesterday to September 15.
The lockdown involves about 3,000 households.
This was after six residents of the barangays, including a fisherman, tricycle driver and transient vendors, tested positive for COVID-19, Tongson said in his executive order.
The executive order of Tongson also states that residents will not be allowed to leave their respective areas and the affected families will be provided with basic food assistance.
A 24-hour curfew will also be imposed and land and sea-based checkpoints will be established.*
