Negros Governor, 21 others contract COVID-19

BACOLOD CITY – The provincial capitol building of Negros Occidental in this city will be locked down for five days starting today after Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and 21 other workers tested positive for COVID.

The five-day lockdown, which will run until Jan. 28, was aimed at preventing the spread of the virus, according to provincial administrator Rayfrando Diaz.

Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer will act as governor while Lacson is in isolation for 10 days.

Lacson is doing well and resting, Diaz said.

The provincial incident management team recommended placing the capitol building under temporary lockdown.

Lacson went on a three-day isolation on Jan. 20, although he tested negative in antigen. A sore throat prompted him to undergo an antigen test.

He underwent RT-PCR or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test on Jan. 22, which showed he had contracted COVID.

Before contracting the virus, Lacson led the turnover of relief assistance to typhoon victims in Hinobaan as well as financial assistance in Moises Padilla and Cauayan.

He had received a booster before he caught the virus.

Meanwhile, the city governments of Bago and Silay are expected to resume operations today after undergoing disinfection for several days.

The temporary shutdown of the city halls was triggered by a sudden surge in COVID cases among the employees.