ALABEL, Sarangani – Local authorities here ordered the lockdown of two Catholic churches here after two priests tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which they may have gotten from another priest in General Santos City.
Mayor Vic Paul Salarda said local health authorities locked down the Catholic parish church in Barangay Poblacion and a Catholic monastery in Barangay Kawas as massive contact tracing was launched for persons who may have had come in direct contact with the priests, who have already been isolated at the provincial hospital facility here.
He said health personnel had launched contact-tracing on church goers who attended mass services officiated by the priests.
He said all church-related activities have been suspended as decontamination operations in the area were being conducted by personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Local health authorities have reported five active confirmed COVID-19 cases with one fatality in the municipality.