The National Bureau of Investigation office in Bacolod City will be closed this week after seven of its personnel tested positive for COVID-19.
The seven NBI administrative and clearance job order workers who tested positive have been brought to a Bacolod City quarantine facility, Renoir Baldovino, NBI Bacolod chief, said today, January 18.
Baldovino said one of their JO workers had manifested COVID-19 symptoms earlier and tested positive.
So he requested the Negros Occidental provincial government to have the rest of the 31 personnel at the NBI Bacolod office, 22 of who are JO workers and 9 regular NBI staff, tested on January 15 and 16.
This resulted in six JOs testing positive for the virus, he said.
They were advised by the Bacolod Inter-Agency Task Force to close down the NBI Bacolod office for a week for disinfection while tracing of persons who may have come in contact with the seven is underway, Baldovino said.
Those who tested negative have also gone on voluntary self-quarantine as an added precaution.
The NBI Bacolod office will reopen on January 25.
Meanwhile, Mayor Rex Jalando-on has issued a memorandum cancelling the work-from-home and skeletal workforce scheme as an alternative work arrangement for La Carlota City government employees, effective today.
All La Carlota City government personnel have been directed to work five days a week and to observe COVID-19 protocols such as physical distancing, and wearing of masks and face shields to prevent the spread of the virus.*