ILOILO City – The number of personnel infected with coronavirus disease 2019 at the City Treasurer’s Office rose to seven.
Laboratory tests confirmed three new cases on Friday, announced Mayor Jerry Treñas.
Treñas revealed that three of the infected employees belonged to the Cash Division, one from the Local Tax Division, and another two from the Realty Division, and the city’s Assistant Treasurer.
Those who came in contact with the COVID-19 positives had their specimens collected for testing.
The mayor will disallow employees to report to work unless their reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test result turned out negative for the viral illness.
COVID-19 spreads from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets also land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
For the safety of both employees and clients, City Treasurer Jinny Hermano said they are strictly following health protocols.
Aside from requiring their personnel to wear facemask and face shield, Hermano said they also put up plastic separators inside their office.
The City Treasurer’s Office was closed twice already for a half-day disinfection.
Hermano clarified that their infected personnel have no direct interaction with their clients./PN
