Governor Esteban Evan Contreras of Capiz province has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In his address aired over the Facebook Page of the Capiz Kabalaka Information Center on Monday night, the governor called on those who have close contact with him since Aug. 19, 2020 to isolate themselves and submit for RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test at their provincial health office.

“I am asymptomatic as of this time. I have ordered the provincial health office and the provincial Covid-19 task force to isolate those who had contact with me and were exposed with my presence,” he said.

The governor said that he underwent the RT-PCR test on Aug. 22 after two of his staff at the governor’s office tested positive.

The governor already placed himself under “strict home quarantine” but said that he will continue to handle “administration and governance of the province”.

“Today I join our brothers and sisters who are infected with this virus. I will have to walk the path of those who had been infected as the people’s governor of our beloved province of Capiz,” he said.

In his address, he urged his constituents to follow health and safety protocols and never be complacent.

“The virus does not discriminate. The virus is out there to infect anybody,” he added.

Meanwhile, data from the Capiz provincial health office showed that as of Aug. 24, the province has 124 confirmed cases; 95 have already recovered, 26 remain active, with three deaths.

Of the active cases, 24 are from Roxas City and one each from Panay and Tapaz towns.

Three new cases recorded on Monday are considered local cases as they have no history of travel and exposure. They all came from Roxas City.

The four new recoveries are three locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and one local case. (PNA)