The Inter-Agency Task Force of San Carlos City continues to track down the close contacts of a 60-year-old male who went to a cockfight arena in the town in Calatrava last Jan. 16 and 17.
The person of interest was reported to have loss of smell and taste and was found positive of the COVID -19 virus.
Mayor Renato Gustilo said the patient is a local government employee but not with the City Hall of San Carlos.
He has seven close contacts including his family, officemates and friends who joined him in the cockpit arena
They were already notified to observe their health conditions and submit for swab testing if needed.
The patient is also a known personality in the city.
He was initially admitted in an isolation facility of the city, but was transferred to a private hospital in Bacolod City after experiencing shortness of breath while in San Carlos.
San Carlos currently has 24 active cases and since the city is at the border of Negros Occidental and Oriental, the local IATF head reminds barangay officials to keep the community alert as COVID cases continue to rise again after the holidays.
The local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office is also monitoring those who were affected by the Jan. 9 flood.
Caelian said they will look into why cockfighting was held in Calatrava since in the omnibus guidelines under Modified General Community Quarantine said activity is not yet permitted. – MML
