Mayors in meeting with Shimura self-monitoring

CEBU, Philippines —  Mayors who attended the June 17, 2020 meeting with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia at the Provincial Capitol are now monitoring themselves.

This after Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura, one of those who was at the meeting, tested positive for COVID-19, four days after the meeting took place.

“Mayors are doing self-monitoring, and for our LMP discussions, we continue to do the same electronically as we have been doing since the start of ECQ,” said Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)- Cebu Chapter.

Shimura announced the news late night on June 21, the day after he underwent the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test after experiencing fever accompanied with cough.

For her part, Governor Garcia said yesterday the protocol for those who test positive for COVID-19 would involve “first generation tracing,” which will cover family members and workmates.

“Naa na tay protocol on positives and that is first generation tracing… Kato atong meeting, that was a one-time thing, so our statement is, we are praying for the swift recovery of Mayor Sun Shimura," the governor said.

(We have a protocol on positives and that is first generation tracing… Our meeting was a one-time thing, so our statement is, we are praying for the swift recovery of Mayor Sun Shimura.)

It was late night on June 21 when Shimura announced on the Facebook page of Daanbantayan that he tested positive for COVID-19.

"Migawas ang resulta karong adlawa, June 21, 2020. Positibo ako sa COVID-19," the post reads.

(The result came out today, June 21, 2020. I am positive for COVID-19.)

Shimura also disclosed that he had tested negative under a Rapid Diagnostic Test, which he took on June 15 after experiencing mild fever for two days.

With the result negative, he decided to continue working, including attending the June 17 meeting at the Capitol.

The meeting tackled the guidelines the province would observe after Cebu City was reverted to enhanced community quarantine.

Shimura said he chose to stay at his house in Mandaue City after the meeting and decided not to go home to Daanbantayan because he once again experienced fever, this time, accompanied with cough.

That was when he decided to undergo the PCR test.

Shimura said he has already convened the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 online upon receiving his test result.

It was decided that all operations of the mayor’s office in Daanbantayan will be suspended for a week. The Daanbantayan Municipal Hall will also be disinfected.  JMO (FREEMAN)