DOH not keen on random COVID-19 testing for employees due to limited resources

The Department of Health has yet to consider random testing of employees who physically report to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic due to limited resources, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday.

Vergeire was responding to calls made by UP researchers after 202 employees, including ticket sellers, of Metro Rail Transit-3 tested positive for COVID-19.

The widespread COVID-19 transmission among MRT-3 employees prompted the management to stop its operation, further limiting the options for commuters to buses and modern public utility vehicles plying on reduced capacity.

“Iyong randomized testing, pag-iisipan namin nang maigi kasi resource intensive ito. Hindi ko pa alam kung kakayanin ito ng ating sistema,” Vergeire said in a virtual forum hosted by DOH.

“Also, how long will we do this? Ang testing kasi is [a picture of] a point in time. Kahit na-test natin ngayon, bukas, may bago ka nang exposure,” she added.

Under DOH protocol, COVID-19 tests are conducted on symptomatic individuals, those with exposure to COVID-19 patients, returning Filipinos from overseas, as well as front liners such as health workers.

Pending random COVID-19 testing of employees, Vergeire called on the public as well as employers from both the private and public sector to strictly implement minimum health standards such as wearing of face masks, observing physical distancing, among others.

“Iyong ating minimum health standards andiyan pa rin. I-enforce ang compliance. Iyon na iyon eh. Wala nang ibang pupuntahan,” Vergeire said.

“Sa mga opisina na may pumutok na infection, kahit naka-mask at may physical distancing, kumakain naman magkakasama sa pantry. Kaya dapat iyong mga pamantayan ay mahigpit na naipapatupad ng mga employers,” she added.

The Philippines has 47,873 COVID-19 cases so far. Of this number, 12,386 recovered while 1,309 died.—AOL/RSJ, GMA News