Three key officials working at the Manila City Hall tested positive for the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), the city mayor announced Monday (July 6).

"Today is one of the saddest moments of our city government because three of our key officials of the city of Manila positively infected with COVID-19," Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said at the flag raising ceremony. 

"These are key personnel that we meet day in, day out, every hour, every day of our duties. That's why we have to be very careful," he added. 

According to the Manila Public Information Office (MPIO), two of these are department heads and one is a city councilor.

Domagoso also said he and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan both tested negative for the disease. This is reportedly the third time that the Manila mayor was exposed to a COVID-19 patient. 

After contact tracing was conducted, other department heads were also required to undergo rapid testing, the MPIO said. 

It also said Manila City Hall is still adopting a skeleton workforce, with employees changing shifts every two weeks. 

Meanwhile, at least 172 residents of the 31 barangays that were placed under lockdown over the weekend tested positive for COVID-19 using rapid testing. 

Of this number, around 136 were admitted to nearby quarantine facilities.

A total of 8,689 residents were tested, the MPIO said. 

Data from the Manila Police District (MPD) showed that 260 violators were arrested during the lockdown: 32 were arrested for violating the smoking ban, two were caught half-naked in public, 157 minors were found outside after curfew hours, and 69 violated Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.