PCOO reports 2 more COVID cases at main office; agency's total up to 25

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar announced Sunday afternoon that two more staff members have contracted coronavirus, bringing the total infections to 19 at their main office.

In a statement, Andanar said, "We regret to inform everyone that, as of 2:10 p.m. of July 26, 2020, we have 19 COVID-19 active cases among our personnel who were infected while performing their duties to the public. Some of these personnel are involved in the production of communication materials, and TV and radio programs which support our daily briefings."

Earlier in the day, the PCOO reported  two more cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of total infections at the main office to  17 as of 12 noon on Sunday, adding that the whole agency's total, including the ones coming from its attached agencies, was at 23.

Based on Andanar's Sunday afternoon statement, PCOO, including its attached agencies, has already a total of 25 COVID-19 cases.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview on Sunday morning, Andanar said COVID-19 cases have also been reported from its attached agencies: one at APO Production Unit, two at the Philippine Information Agency, one at the People's Television Network, and two at Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM).

Two cases  — one at PCOO main office and another at the APO Production Unit — have died, he noted.

Also, he said that the PCOO has activated its COVID Warrior Mechanism wherein there were people assigned to do contact tracing and coordinate with hospitals.

"Naka-lockdown kami sa PCOO at RTVM. May mga pinapasok lang tayo sa technical side," he said.

"Lahat, dadaan sa swabbing," he said, including those who work in production such as himself who need to go to work daily.

In his latest statement, the PCOO chief said, "Upon the confirmation of COVID-19 case last July 21, 2020, our office immediately conducted testing and contact tracing of primary and secondary contacts of the patient among our staff to minimize the transmission of the virus. From thereon, we have intensified our testing and contact tracing to include all of our skeleton workforce in order to ensure everyone’s safety."

We continue to assist and support the family of those who have been infected by COVID-19, in the same way we ensure the safety of all of our personnel against the virus, he added.

He assured that public that despite the new reported infections, the PCOO will continue to deliver  "essential and timely information to the Filipino public." 

"On President Rodrigo Duterte’s upcoming fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), we have prepared three separate Zoom viewing rooms for Cabinet officials, local chief executives, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). These virtual viewing rooms will cater to select individuals who cannot be physically present during the address," he said. —LBG, GMA News