9 Lapu-Lapu health dept. employees positive of COVID-19

Grace Carungay, the head of the Lapu-Lapu City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, and eight other employees of the city’s health department have tested positive for COVID-19. | CDN Digital file photo

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines – Nine Lapu-Lapu City Health Department (LCHD) employees and contact tracers tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

This was confirmed by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan in a press briefing on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.

The positive employees include Grace Carungay, Chan’s sister and head of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU), a nurse, a utility worker, two drivers, and four contact tracers that were hired by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The positive employees were already isolated at their isolation facility in Lapu-Lapu City College, (LCC), except for Carungay who was admitted to a private hospital in the city, after she manifested symptoms of the virus such as cough, colds, and difficulty of breathing.

The head of the LCHD, Dr. Agnes Realiza, has also isolated herself after being exposed to some LCHD employees who were COVID-19 positive.

Chan also admitted that this is also the reason that they canceled the holding of the COVID-19 vaccination simulation today, February 24, 2021.

“Wa sa nato gilahos. Ang usa sad ana, most of our health workers karon are nag-suffer ani sa COVID-19. I think the head, Dr. Realiza, nag-isolate gani siya karon kay naa siyay mga sintomas nga iyang nakita,” Chan said.

Chan revealed that Realiza manifested influenza-like symptoms but was already swabbed and is just waiting for the result. /rcg