The Moises Padilla municipal hall has been locked down after one of its employees exhibited COVID-like symptoms, Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo said today, December 4.
She said that the female employee, who resides in Binalbagan town, tested positive in an rapid antibody test, which is not conclusive for COVID-19.
The mayor said that the suspected patient had already undergone a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test and the result has yet to be released.
As a precautionary measure, the local government has locked down the municipal hall for two days, since Thursday, December 3, she said.
She said that swab tests are being done regularly on Moises Padilla employees who travel to Bacolod City on official business.
Municipal Health Officer Dr. Lyle Ladera, in an advisory, also said that related contacts of the suspected patient were directed to go on quarantine.
“We’re doing all necessary steps to curb the transmission of the disease,” he said.
In neighboring Isabela town, Mayor Irene Montilla said today, December 4, that their municipal hall, which was placed on lockdown for a week after three of its job order employees tested positive for the virus, will open next week.
This, after the 15 direct contacts of the three positive patients, who are recuperating at the EB Magalona Healing Facility, tested negative for the virus, the mayor said.
Another Isabela barangay was placed on a temporary locked down after an 18-year-old pregnant woman was tested positive in a pre-delivery swab test.
She said the lockdown in Barangay 9 has affected 32 households.*