Over 300 construction workers in Taguig test positive for COVID-19

At least 327 construction workers in Taguig City have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Taguig City Government announced.

The city's official Facebook page earlier announced on Wednesday that 308 out of 691 workers in a construction site in Fort Bonificacio were found positive for the virus.

An update on Thursday raised the number to 327.

"The recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases is attributed to the aggressive testing and contact tracing done in areas that were placed on a localized lockdown," the LGU said.

A total of 111 individuals had also tested positive in Lower Bicutan after the local government conducted more than 2,104 tests in areas in Purok 5 and Purok 6.

The patients have been isolated and are under close monitoring in government facilities, the Taguig local government said.

The LGU also urged the public to cooperate with its measures to contain the virus.

"We don't want to quarantine at the city or barangay level. As much as possible, we want to further localize lockdowns so we can be more specific about the areas we will investigate if there is unidentified mass transmission on the street or cluster of homes or buildings," it said.

"In a matter of 24 hours, we were able to close and quarantine the BGC construction site, begin contact tracing, testing and treatment," it added.

Last month, a localized lockdown was implemented at a construction site in Bonifacio Global City after some construction workers reportedly ran a fever. At least six tested positive for COVID-19. The lockdown was set to be lifted on July 7.

The government allowed some public and private construction projects to resume in May even in areas under the enhanced community quarantine. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News