THE municipal hall of Minglanilla, Southern Cebu will be closed to the public from Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, to Friday, Aug. 7, after 16 personnel working in four departments were found positive for Covid-19.

Minglanilla Mayor Elanito Peña said aside from closing their town hall for four days, all of their personnel must undergo a swab test.

A total of 109 regular employees, 66 casual employees and 315 job order workers are employed at Minglanilla’s town hall.

Peña issued Executive Order No. 29 on Monday, Aug. 3, ordering a four-day closure of the municipal hall after some employees of the Municipal Agriculture Office, Budget Office, local treasury and Engineering Office tested positive for Covid-19.

Peña said their first case came from the Municipal Agriculture Office, prompting them to disinfect the office.

“We were able to disinfect the office, but sadly, another case cropped up,” Peña said, in Cebuano.

Peña said while the town hall is closed to the public, only personnel from the Municipal Health Office and city-hired frontliners are allowed to enter the building.

The rest of the municipal government’s workers will be in a work-from-home arrangement.

Peña said he will remain at the municipal office as he has more work to do.

He assured his constituents that he is fine and healthy.

As of Aug. 3, Minglanilla’s Covid-19 cases have reached 396 with 98 active cases, 278 recoveries and 20 deaths. (ANV / JKV)