Cagayan vice governor, Bontoc mayor get COVID-19

TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan, Philippines — The vice governor of this province and mayor of Bontoc in Mountain Province have tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Vice Gov. Melvin Vargas and Mayor Franklin Odsey confirmed in their social media posts that they contracted the virus and are both asymptomatic.

The two local officials urged those who interacted with them in the past 14 days to undergo self-quarantine and coordinate with health officers.

Vargas said he distributed relief goods for flood victims in this city, Amulung, Gattaran and Enrile in the past week. He said he also interacted with drivers, porters and local artists in his office.

Odsey said members of his household and other staff are on self-quarantine and would undergo swab tests.

Odsey had earlier lamented that health facilities in his town are overwhelmed after the number of cases breached 100.

42 more cops infected

In the Philippine National Police (PNP), the number of infected personnel reached 9,464 yesterday after 42 new cases were recorded.

Eighteen are from Metro Manila, three from Northern Mindanao, two each from Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas and one each from Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Zamboanga peninsula, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.

Ten are from various administrative and support units of the PNP.

At least 392 are still recuperating in hospitals and quarantine facilities.

In Northern Samar, Gov. Edwin Ongchuan issued a memorandum on Thursday ordering capitol employees to return to office work starting tomorrow.

The order ends the two-month alternative work arrangement for provincial government employees to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Ongchuan directed department and office heads to disinfect their offices, facilities and vehicles and continue to monitor the health status of their staff. — Emmanuel Tupas, Miriam Desacada