BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) offices here and in Victorias City, Negros Occidental were temporarily shuttered yesterday after a client was found infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
BIR Regional Office-12 chief Norma Bayoneta said their regional director Jonathan Anthony Jaminola ordered the closure.
The male client tagged as Patient No. 685 from E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental visited their two offices to check his tax identification number, Bayoneta said.
Around eight employees from both offices came in contact with the patient.
According to Bayoneta, the patient claimed to have been working as a job order for the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
However, provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said they are unaware about any employee from the provincial government who tested positive for COVID-19, although Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer said at least one employee underwent reverse transcription-polymerase reaction test recently.
The local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices in Bacolod City and Victorias City will conduct disinfection of the BIR offices.
Contact tracing was launched for those who came into contact with the said patient.
The two offices are expected to resume operations on Monday./PN
