DOJ reports possible COVID-19 cases after 3 personnel test positive in rapid test

Three personnel of the Department of Justice (DOJ) have tested positive for COVID-19 based on rapid testing, making them "possible cases" pending the results of a confirmatory test, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday.

Two security guards and one maintenance staff tested positive for the infectious disease, Guevarra said in a message to reporters.

The three were "immediately" asked to stop reporting for work and to undergo a swab test, he said.

"If confirmed positive, they'd be brought to a hospital for proper treatment,"  the official said. The department is still waiting for the swab test results, he said.

Guevarra said the rest of the DOJ personnel reporting for work on site will undergo rapid testing on Tuesday and Wednesday with assistance from medical personnel from the Chinese General Hospital.

The Justice chief added that they have disinfected the premises over the weekend and will do it again. "We'll also decide if we need to suspend all work on site in the meantime," he said.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said the department has 700 to 750 employees.

As of Monday, Philippine health authorities have recorded 22,474 COVID-19 cases in the country. Of this number, 4,637 patients have recovered and 1,011 have died.  --Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/KBK, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/741652/philippines-logs-579-more-covid-19-cases-total-tops-22-000/story/