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No order requiring workers, employees to undergo COVID-19 test, DILG chief says


Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday clarified that it is not the requirement of the national government to test employees and workers for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) before they go back to their respective jobs.

"Hindi requirement o mandatory requirement na itest 'yung manggagawa bago papasukin," Año told Dobol B sa News TV.

According to Año, some local government units are supposedly issuing orders, requiring companies to have their employees tested for the disease. He said there is no official directive regarding the matter.

"Ang gusto natin iparating sa mga LGUs at sa publiko, nagkaroon kasi ng kalituhan na ang sabi bago tanggapin ang manggagawa o ang mga nago-opisina ay dapat mag-undergo ng testing," he said.

"Wala naman tayong ipinag-uutos na ganyan, nilinaw 'yan ng ating DOLE at saka DTI kaya sa mga LGU na nagi-issue ng orders na nire-require 'yung mga kumpanya o opisina na dapat i-test ay hindi dapat ganoon," he added.

Año said what firms could do is to subject employees to screening if they manifest symptoms of COVID-19. He noted that if the employees and workers have flu-like symptoms, they should not report to work.

"Puwedeng magkaroon ng screening o diagnostic kung may symptoms. Kung may symptoms naman, talagang dapat naman na 'di na papasukin,” he said.

The DILG chief said returning employees must also fill-up a disclosure form which will detail their activities for the last 14 days or if they have contact with COVID-19 patients.

"'Yung babalik na empleyado magpifill-up sila ng disclosure form sa last 14 days saan sila nanggaling, mayroon ba silang kamag-anak na nagpositive, gaano sila kalapit sa kapitbahay na nagpositive," he said.

Earlier, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said only those showing symptoms of COVID-19 should be required to undergo the test.

Bello noted that employers must comply with minimum health standards such as having the temperature of workers checked and implementing strict sanitation protocols.—AOL, GMA News
 

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