TACLOBAN City - Palapag, Northern Samar Mayor Manuel Aoyang succumbed to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) early Friday morning.
Rei Echano, the provincial information officer, said the 66-year-old chief executive was said to have contracted the infection last week during the onslaught of Super typhoon "Rolly," amidst the continuous spike of cases in the province.
Aoyang was confined in a private hospital in Tacloban City where he reportedly passed away at 1 a.m. He was said to have comorbidity.
Police Col. Arnel Apud, Northern Samar Police Provincial Director, said he will be immediately cremated in Palapag, Friday pursuant to the health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Infectious Disease.
Northern Samar has logged a total of 822 COVID-19 cases, 399 of which are still active.
According to the Provincial Health Office, 414 cases have already been recorded, while 10 COVID patients have died.
The province remains under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) until November 17. It has also declared a moratorium on the acceptance of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) for two weeks.