MURCIA Mayor Gerry Rojas, two members of the Municipal Council and a former council member have tested positive for Sars-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz confirmed this after the results were released Wednesday afternoon, April 7, by the Provincial Molecular Laboratory at Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital.
Diaz named the two Murcia councilors who tested positive for coronavirus as Belen Magbanua and Adrian Olimpo, while the former council member is Ruben Taneza.
The said officials who are asymptomatic were brought to the Provincial Quarantine and Healing Center at Mambukal Resort also in Murcia Wednesday, Diaz said.
Vice Mayor Johnny Reusora told Sunstar-Bacolod that they submitted themselves to a swab test on Tuesday, April 6, after they were exposed to an official in an event last week.
The said official, he said, had symptoms of Covid-19, like cough and loss of sense of taste and smell. He said, though, that he was negative based on the RT-PCR test result Wednesday.
Reusoria also said they have temporarily locked down the Municipal Building since April 6 until the disinfection will be completed.
Third District Board Member Andew Montelibano revealed that tested positive for coronavirus prior to the mayor was Punong Barangay Jenny Gemenia of Barangay Salvacion and a Department of Education district supervisor in Murcia.
Rojas and other officials were exposed to the two in an event on March 26.
Montelibano, former mayor of the town, is recommending that the municipal building be locked down until the disinfection is completed.
Reusora also said that they were set to have an emergency meeting Wednesday night, April 7, with the local Covid-19 Task Force with their rural health unit for immediate contact tracing and other necessary steps to address the situation.