BACOLOD CITY (PNA) – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, as well as 18 employees of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial office here, went on self-isolation on Tuesday after they were exposed to a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case during an event last week.
The person, an agency official from Iloilo province, attended the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Summit 2021 held at the Negrenses Residences on January 22. He later tested positive for the virus.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said the governor will undergo swab test on Wednesday, or five days after exposure.
“The test will hopefully yield a negative result and he can go back to work,” he added.
Diaz said Lacson had contact with the DILG official, who was considered an authorized person outside residence (APOR), when the handed her a certificate during the activity.
The 18 personnel of DILG-Negros Occidental will also be swabbed on Wednesday, he added.
On Tuesday, the DILG Provincial Office located in La Luz Building along Lacson St., Barangay Mandalagan here was closed for disinfection.
The DILG-Western Visayas said in a Facebook post on Monday that 23 personnel of DILG-Iloilo Province have tested positive for the virus, and have been isolated in their respective local government units.
“We really have to be careful. It’s (COVID-19) just there. We can hurt people by not being responsible,” Diaz said.