Rizal vice mayor dies of COVID

MANILA, Philippines — The vice mayor of Jala-Jala, Rizal, who said he had tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), died yesterday.

In a post on Facebook, the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines-Rizal provincial chapter confirmed that Vice Mayor Jose delos Santos died at around 5 p.m., quoting his secretary identified only as Gerald.

The municipal health office said the vice mayor was confined at the Clinica Antipolo on March 16.

In an earlier television interview, Delos Santos said he tested positive for COVID-19 on March 26, but had only mild symptoms.

He said he could have contracted the disease when he attended the Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL) convention at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City in February.

A councilor of Tayasan town in Negros Oriental, who attended the same convention, died of COVID-19 early last month.

Mayor Philip Crispino and his wife Councilor Donna Rillera-Crispino of Caba, La Union, who said they also attended the PCL convention, tested positive for the virus.

Rizal Gov. Rebecca Ynares was infected by COVID-19, her son said last week.

In Davao City, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio confirmed community transmission of COVID-19, adding that an enhanced community quarantine might be imposed as a precautionary measure.

Carpio said she had warned Dabawenyos of an enhanced community quarantine if the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase.

She said food and medicine passes have been distributed to residents in preparation for a lockdown.

Carpio reiterated the need for people to stay in their homes, observe social distancing and practice proper handwashing to avoid infection.

Davao City reportedly has 41 COVID-19 patients, of which four recovered and six died.

Meanwhile, Bulacan reported five more deaths due to the virus, bringing the number of fatalities to 12.

A 32-year-old female from San Jose del Monte City, a 55-year-old male from San Miguel, a 76-year-old from Sta. Maria and a 60-year-old and a 59-year-old male from Malolos are the latest fatalities.

The provincial health office reported 10 new cases, bringing the total to 28 as of Monday.

In Zambales, a 90-year-old person under investigation (PUI) was the first COVID-19 fatality in the province.

The patient died on Friday, two days before his test result was released. There are 136 PUIs and 5,347 persons under monitoring (PUMs) in Zambales.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said 59 so-called COVID-19 hot zones in the province were placed on lockdown to prevent the spread of the disease. – With Edith Regalado, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Gilbert Bayoran, Roel Pareño, Bebot Sison, Cet Dematera, Raymund Catindig, Eva Visperas, Cesar Ramirez, Artemio Dumlao