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GAPAN CITY – Mayor Emerson Pascual said the city hall is closed to all transactions from Wednesday, Aug. 19 to Aug. 23, to give way for disinfection after a department head tested positive for the coronavirus disease in rapid test conducted on Tuesday.
In a live video message Tuesday night, Pascual said the official who tested positive in the rapid test has been subjected to swab test immediately.
“Habang hinihintay natin yung kanyang swab test ay mainam po na mag-ingat tayo. Hindi po natin sinasabi ito para matakot kayo kundi bagkus para mag-ingat,” the mayor stressed.
He asked all city hall employees to voluntarily isolate themselves from their family members and other people to contain the possible spread of Covid-19.
“Wala kayong pupuntahang birthday, walang inuman, walang mamamasyal. Lahat po ng empleyado ng city hall ng Gapan, magho-home quarantine,” the mayor said, even asking employees’ relative to distance themselves from them.
The city government will resume operation on Monday, Aug. 24.
The suspension includes the Bakuna Day (immunization activity) this Wednesday in various barangay health centers. This will resume on Monday, instead.
Pascual disclosed that three of the 17 employees of an electric cooperative who earlier tested positive for the virus were residents of this city. One of whom, he said, had died.
As of Tuesday night, the city has five active Covid–19 cases, he noted, prompting the city government to continue strict implementation of the mandatory wearing of face masks in public places, face shieldsand physical distancing, and ban on tricycle back–riding. He reported that on Monday, 54 people were arrested and fined P2,500 each for not wearing facemasks.
Smoking is prohibited in public places and the liquor ban is also in effect the city.
He said he was saddened that people had to be fined the amount amidst economic hardship brought by the pandemic because of such violations: “Ako’y nalulungkot sapagkat napaka-simple lang naman ng hinihiling natin — mag-face mask lahat.“
Residents of this city who travel to other places shall have to undergo rapid testing upon return. He said he is willing to face the anger of 1,000 people for the safety of the 140,000 residents.
