Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander T. Pimentel. (Photo lifted from the Facebook Page of Gov. Ayec T. Pimentel)
BUTUAN CITY – Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander T. Pimentel has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), his chief of staff, Marjorie Pagaran, said Wednesday morning (Sept. 23).
Pagaran said the governor is asymptomatic and now under quarantine.
An increase in Covid-19 cases has been noted in the province in the last two weeks, particularly in Bislig City as reported by the Department of Health in Region 13 (DOH-13).
The agency on Wednesday said that as of Tuesday, 46 new Covid-19 infections were recorded in the region, distributed in Bislig City with 22, Butuan City with 20, and Tandag City with four.
Two Covid-19 related deaths were also recorded, the cases include a 62-year-old male from this city and a 75-year-old male from Bislig City.
“Twenty-one of the new cases are classified as local transmissions, 10 with close contact with previous local transmissions, nine were health care workers, and two front-liners,” the DOH-13 said.
The new infections brought Bislig City's total cases to 94, with 17 recoveries, 70 active cases, and eight recorded deaths as of Sept. 22. DOH-13 said 55 of the total Covid-19 cases in the city are classified as local transmission.
Tandag City, on the other hand, has 12 total cases, four recoveries, and eight active cases in the same period.
Earlier this week, Pimental issued an executive order that imposed new restrictions in the cities of Tandag and Bislig following the spike of Covid-19 infections and the occurrence of local transmissions.
The restrictions include the intensified implementation of 24-hour checkpoints in the borders of the two cities to ensure the implementation of strict quarantine measures.
Pimental's order also required all persons coming in and out in the cities of Tandag and Bislig, including the Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) to undergo rapid antibody testing at their own expense.
Travelers who would only pass through the two cities with no intension to stop or disembark will not be required to undergo the test but will be escorted towards the exit point.
DOH-13 said that as of Sept. 22, the region logged a total of 1,109 Covid-19 infections with 594 recoveries, 480 active cases, and 35 recorded deaths. (PNA)
