WHO flags workplace clustering of COVID-19 cases in Philippines

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday urged Filipinos to immediately isolate themselves if they are experiencing symptoms as it flagged a clustering of COVID-19 infections in workplaces.

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Philippines country representative, said it was “critically important” that symptomatic individuals are isolated and tested early amid the emergence of new and more transmissible coronavirus variants.

“Worryingly, what we are seeing is several clusters of cases being reported from multiple workplaces. Oftentimes, these clusters are related to infection that was acquired in the community and then brought into [the] workplace,” he said at a briefing.

“People who exhibit symptoms [must] isolate themselves early, have themselves tested, and manage themselves without putting their family members or their coworkers at risk by turning up at workplaces,” he added.

Quezon City, one of the areas battling a fresh spike, earlier reported that most of its new cases were linked to workplaces.

The Department of Health also observed workplace clustering as it warned that the current surge is similar to last year’s peak.

Abeyasinghe urged city and regional health authorities to “pay increased attention” to clustering in offices.

“This will be a critical element so that we suppress infection. It’s not just limited to behaviors that we adopt and practice in our homes but it also relates to what we do in our workplaces, what we do when we use public transport, et cetera,” he said.

“All of these measures, everybody needs to contribute to them. I know it’s been a very very long time everybody is tired everybody wants to see an end to this pandemic… but this is what it is, we are continuing to deal with [it].”

The Philippines logged 7,103 new infections on Friday, its highest single-day tally ever, bringing total infections to 648,066 with 73,264 active cases. -MDM, GMA News