BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Mayor Marvin Malacon of E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Malacon’s lawyer Ariel Malunes said the mayor and some members of his family were confined in a private hospital in this city.
Malunes said the mayor is recovering well and there is no cause for alarm for the people of E.B. Magalona.
Vice Mayor Eric Matulac is in charge of running the town so there won’t be disruption of public service.
“When he (Malacon) felt that he was not feeling well, he submitted himself to home quarantine and underwent swab test. When the result came out, he and his immediate family were admitted at a hospital,” said Malunes.
Malacon may have contracted the virus during a visit to Bacolod City, according to the lawyer.
“Every weekend his family dines in Bacolod City so this is not a local COVID transmission in E.B. Magalona,” he said.
In a related development, the Bago City Hospital temporarily stopped accepting patients.
Bago City’s Mayor Nicholas Yulo said the temporary suspension will give way to the disinfection of the hospital.
There were reports that one of the doctors there tested positive for COVID-19.
Dr. Allan Abayon, chief of the Bago City Hospital, confirmed the mayor’s statement, adding that the doctor also serves as company physician for a local call center in Bacolod City.
Abayon said the doctor paid a visit to the hospital on Aug. 6 and visited at least three wards.
Contact tracing had already been launched for patients in the said hospital wards and 35 hospital staff underwent swab test last Wednesday.
Eight other hospital personnel are also scheduled to undergo swab tests.
Abayon also stated the hospital’s emergency room remains open.
The hospital is expected to resume normal operations on Monday./PN
