Recent COVID-19 infections in QC mostly transmitted in workplaces — Belmonte

The latest COVID-19 infections in Quezon City were found to have been transmitted in workplaces, the local government said Monday.

Data from the city's Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) showed that of the 722 positive cases from February 28 to March 13, 2021, a total of 104 cases or 14% of the said total cases have been transmitted in workplaces with many employees.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said household transmission stems from one member of the household acquiring the virus from his/her workplace. She called on employers to observe measures that will prevent the COVID-19 transmission in work areas.

"We have instructed our departments to closely look into workplaces and check if they still adhere to our health protocols. Employers must do all they could to minimize risks among their employees, especially essential workers, so they won’t bring the virus home to their families,” Belmonte said in a statement.

Quezon City recently enforced a liquor ban and a temporary closure of selected establishments beginning March 15 to March 31 due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases across the metro.

As of March 14, there are 2,991 active COVID-19 cases in the city while there are 32,024 recoveries and 863 fatalities.

Workplace guidelines

In the supplemental guidelines issued on March 14, Belmonte required all establishments in Quezon City to create a dedicated COVID-19 task force, which would implement prevention, detection, contact tracing, isolation, and management strategies of a company, office, or store, if feasible.

The mayor also wants employers to provide transportation alternatives for employees, as far as practicable, to prevent them from being exposed to the virus in their commute.

Belmonte said establishments should also provide separate entrances and exits to reduce mingling of foot traffic and to place hand sanitizing stations and a contact tracing log, KyusiPass as far as feasible, at each entrance.

She said foot traffic inside an establishment should be one-way, as guided by floor markers or other appropriate signage.

She added that employers must not allow the entry of employees without face masks and face shields.

According to Belmonte, furniture and office equipment must be rearranged to ensure that a minimum distance of two meters between each workstation is being observed. If feasible, improvised dividers or acrylic barriers, especially in retail and customer-facing positions, should be installed.

Employees should have lunch or breaks individually at their desks or only with employees from the same workgroup or department, Belmonte said.

To further reduce the transmission of the disease, workplaces may enforce alternative work schedules, which will lessen the number of employees inside the establishment at any time.

The frequent and thorough disinfection of high-touch objects like buttons, railings, counters, and door handles must also be done, the mayor said.

Belmonte said persons showing COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, body aches, and difficulty in breathing, must immediately be placed on sick leave and not be allowed to go to work.

Employees who exhibit these symptoms while in the workplace should be promptly isolated in accordance with Department of Health Memorandum No. 2020-0439 dated October 6, 2020 (Omnibus Guidelines on Prevention, Detection, Isolation, Treatment and Reintegration Strategies for COVID-19).

She reminded that employees, who were quarantined due to a positive COVID-19 test result or for being a close contact of a COVID-19 patient, should have a certificate of completion of quarantine from their barangay before reporting again for work.

Establishments are tasked to report any confirmed positive COVID-19 cases among their staff or clients to the CESU via phone (02-8703-2759 or 02-8703-4398) or through email (QCSurveillance@quezoncity.gov.ph). — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News