The main building of the provincial capitol here will be temporarily closed from Monday to Friday this week following reports that three employees tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Governor Daniel R. Fernando said the temporary closure will give way to the disinfection of every office in the building, thorough contact tracing, and swabbing of those individuals who have been exposed to the infected employees.

“This temporary closure is necessary to protect provincial government employees as well as the general public who regularly and continuously visit the capitol offices for various services. We are resolute in our fight against Covid-19, and as our citizens remain in solidarity, I know that we can overcome this,” Fernando said in a statement on Saturday.

He, however, said that all other offices at the provincial government compound will continue to operate as usual.

For the meantime, employees working at the main building will be housed at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center for unhampered delivery of public services.

Records from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) as of 4 p.m. Saturday showed 34 new confirmed Covid-19 cases in the province for an overall tally of 1,699.

Out of the total cases, 1,047 are active status.

The PHO also said that 40 more patients recovered from the dreaded disease, bringing the total recoveries to 600.

PHO chief Joy Gomez said that of the 40 recovered patients, 26 are from Marilao, 13 from Plaridel and one from Bulakan.

Meanwhile, the total number of deaths remained at 52. (PNA)