SOUTHERN Leyte lone district representative Roger Mercado said Sunday, September 5, 2021, that he has tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
“To all persons I have spoken or encountered, please take the necessary precaution and quarantine to avoid the spread of Covid-19,” said the 70-year-old congressman.
“We will fight and heal as one,” he added.
The solon had his reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test at the Ospa Farmers Medical Center in Ormoc City on Friday, September 3.
“He voluntarily subjected to RT-PCR (swab) test as a requirement for his dental surgery and so far, he is asymptomatic,” added the congressman’s son, Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado.
The mayor said they have already started the contact tracing to those who have primary exposure to the congressman, most especially those persons who have experienced face-to-face contact within one meter and for at least 15 minutes during the five-day period before the date of his swabbing.
“The City Government of Maasin would like to re-assure the Maasinhons that we are on top of the situation. We will surely exhaust all our efforts and take all the possible measures for the safety and security of all Maasinhons,” the mayor said.
Meanwhile, the city also reported its first two cases of Delta variant on Sunday.
The Delta cases are from Barangay Ibarra and Canturing.
According to the mayor, he will issue an executive order “for possible granular lockdown of the area and swabbing of identified primary contacts and family members.”
He also asked for those secondary and tertiary contacts to self-isolate.
“Please be vigilant at all times, follow basic health protocols, and get vaccinated as soon as possible,” he added.
As of Sunday, Maasin had 101 active cases of Covid-19. (SunStar Philippines)