TALISAY City, Cebu Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. tested positive for the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

He made the announcement on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, on his Facebook page.

“I’m sad to inform all of you that I have been confirmed to be positive for Covid-19... Hopefully, I can fully recover from this as we still have more work to be done. Please pray that I can recover fully from this experience,” he said.

On Tuesday, Feb. 9, he experienced symptoms of Covid-19, such as sore throat, body aches and cough.

Swabbed

“Due to concerns that I may have the disease, I asked our city health officials to have me swabbed. The whole week last week, the weekend and on Monday, wala koy gibati (I was fine), but Tuesday morning didto nag sugod akong mga symptoms (the symptoms start to manifest),” he said.

Since Tuesday, Gullas has been living apart from his family. All of his household members are also undergoing quarantine.

Operations

Gullas assured that his absence will not hamper Talisay City Government’s operations.

“Despite my absence, our City Government will continue working. Our basic services will continue, including our Aksyon Agad services,” he said.

Gullas is the eighth mayor in Cebu who has tested positive for Covid-19.

The other mayors who had tested positive for Covid-19 are Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura, Barili Mayor Marlon Garcia, Tuburan Mayor Danilo Diamante, Asturias Mayor Antonio Pintor, Alcoy Mayor Michael Angelo Sestoso, San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan.

Garcia died on Sept. 6, 2020, five days after the death of his older brother Nelson, the former mayor of Dumanjug town.

Shimura, Diamante, Pintor, Sestoso, Reluya and Chan recovered from the respiratory disease. (SunStar Philippines with ANV)