By Anton Luis Catindig
CITY OF MALOLOS—Cases of COVID 19 infection among Bulacan Capitol employees rose to 20 cases recently with three deaths and more than 100 closed contacts that were isolated but health officials downplayed the premier government office of the province as a hot spot area saying there’s no need to order it lockdown amid the fear of within offices transmission.
Fernando Domingo and Vher Garcia, both field employees of the Bulacan Provincial Government have died of COVID 19.
Former Bulacan Provincial Police Office Legal Officer Col. Ariel Alvarado also died of COVID 19 while inside the Governance Center Quarantine Facility in the Capitol Compound.
Dr. Hjordis Marushka Celis, Bulacan Medical Center Director, head of the Response Cluster of COVID 19 Provincial Task Force and co- chair of Vaccination Operation Center of Bulacan confirmed the high number of cases among the employees.
But she told NEWS CORE that the infections were community based and not related between departments. There are really high cases in the community she said.
Celis said those closed contacts were already isolated and have already been swabbed. They are now waiting for the result.
According to Celis, the Capitol had also undergone series of disinfection after works had been suspended and a lockdown was earlier enforced.
“It is true, there are high cases. But during evaluation, it was found out that the infection were sourced down in the communities and not related between the departments and that Capitol had underwent several disinfection already,” she said.
She said all employees are advised to strictly follow the minimum health protocols in their respective communities, home and in the office. “Marami na kasing gumagala ngayon ganun din ang mga parties. Mag scan ka lang sa social media at malula ka sa dami ng get together. Sa mga pagtatanggal ng mask usually nagkakahawahan. Ang pinapairal na protocol din ay kapag may nararamdaman na ay hindi na dapat pumasok. May reporting system na. At i-coordinate din ng mga department heads yung reporting sa barangay at Municipal Health Office”.
