2 Capitol employees die within the week

CEBU, Philippines —  Two Capitol employees - one positive and one suspected to be COVID-19 positive - have died within the week.

Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Dr. Christina Giango has confirmed the news in a phone call with Capitol reporters yesterday.

The first employee is a 58-year-old female from Cebu City who yielded positive results in a swab test conducted upon admission at the Chong Hua Hospital last June 15.

Later on, her swab results from an accredited national sub laboratory yielded negative results. The patient died last June 25. She is scheduled to be buried on July 2.

Despite her negative result, contact-tracing has been immediately conducted on her workmates and family members. Identified contacts are now under isolation.

The second employee, a 53-year-old male from Barangay Kamputhaw Cebu City who had hypertension, exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 and was swabbed in the PHO clinic last June 15.

He was advised not to report for work while waiting for his results and was moved to a quarantine facility after his positive result came out. He was then moved to Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) after two days due to low oxygen saturation.

He died last June 26 and was buried the next day.

Co-workers “in the same station” as him have already been isolated.

At present, there are 10 active cases of COVID-19 recorded among Capitol employees. Two have recovered. One died from COVID-19 while one died exhibiting symptoms.

Giango pointed out that all the COVID-19-positive employees reside in Cebu City. The Capitol, she added, will be providing aid for the affected families.

She also clarified that the employees who have died have not undergone tuob in the workplace. She added that this is the same with the rest of the employees that have tested positive.

“Katong duha, na-[admit] na to sila, wa pa mi kasugod sa katong tuob diri. Wala to sila katuob sa katong naa’y memo, wa pa to sila,” she said.

Employees that either reside in the 12 barangays in Cebu City identified as hot spots of the coronavirus disease, are immunocompromised or are aged above 60 years old have been advised to not report for work.

Daily disinfection is still going on at the Capitol and offices have been provided with disinfection materials. Employees have been provided with vitamin C.

Close Contacts

Meanwhile, in Daanbantayan, Cebu, three close contacts of Mayor Sun Shimura have tested positive for COVID-19.

Shimura had earlier tested positive for the virus.

In the Facebook of the Municiaplitiy of Daanbantayan, the three have been among the five who were swabbed after getting in close contact with the mayor.

Those who turned positive are a 63-year-old female, 34-year-old male and a 52-year-old female who are residents of Barangay Poblacion.  GAN (FREEMAN)