Cadiz orders face mask use anew

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Wearing of face masks in government offices in Cadiz City in Negros Occidental is again mandatory.

Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. issued an executive order (EO) on the no face mask, no entry policy on Tuesday after a department head in the city government and a national government employee tested positive for COVID.

Escalante said COVID continues to pose a threat to the health and safety of residents of Cadiz.

He said contact tracing is ongoing to determine if other city hall employees had been infected.

Escalante said it is possible that the infected employees contracted the virus from city hall visitors.

Under the EO, employees and visitors are required to wear face masks while in the city hall.

Minimum public health standards shall continue to be observed, the EO said.

Escalante urged residents, especially those with comorbidities, to wear face masks in public places.

The city government of Iloilo reimposed the no face mask, no entry policy in the city hall premises last week amid an increase in COVID cases.