2 Tarlac mayors test positive for Covid-19

TARLAC: Two local chief executives in the province tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan, according to the Municipal Health Office, was likely infected from his unavoidable daily exposure as a public servant.

“With this, we sincerely ask the public to join us in our prayers for Mayor Catacutan’s healing and fast recovery in his isolation,” according to the Capas Information Office’s (CIO) official statement.

The CIO said that the Office of the Mayor shall be temporarily closed for disinfection pending the swab test results of all staff exposed to Catacutan.

However, it said a skeletal force shall remain at the Chief of Staff and Administrator’s Office for continued operations.

On Monday, Concepcion Mayor Andy Lacson set himself for isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 following his exposure to an infected close-in security aide on March 30.

In a social media post, Lacson said that he was complying with all quarantine protocols and has isolated himself in a room in his house where he appears to be attached to a ventilator to aid his breathing.

He also announced that he has filed a leave of absence while he seeks medical treatment for his mild symptoms.

Lacson was recently criticized for promoting an open-air food park and using face masks in public with exhalation valves.

The Department of Health (DoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have said that this type of mask can put people around the wearer at risk of contracting the virus if the wearer is sick. A proper face mask should be able to protect both the wearer and the people around from spreading the virus.

The third term mayor is expected to run for the third legislative district of the province at the House of Representatives.