ILOILO City – Two employees of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Western Visayas tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
NIA quickly placed its regional office in Jaro district on a temporary lockdown to stop the virus from spreading.
“Our office will be on lockdown until the disinfection process is complete,” the NIA management said in an official statement released on Wednesday.
The two employees were asymptomatic and currently on facility quarantine.
Dr. Marlyn Convocar of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 reiterated protocols for various government agencies requiring to get their employees tested for COVID-19.
“Damo kita national agencies nga nagpa-swab tapos they continue nga naga-obra dayun,” Convocar said, adding employees who were swabbed must observe the 14-day quarantine while waiting for the rest results.
According to Convocar, it is the responsibility of the local government unit (LGU) or the entity that conducted the swab, with the support of the DOH, to put them in a quarantine facility.
“Even if the result has been released you should finish the 14-day quarantine because you can be infectious during the 14-day period,” she said.
She said they saw lapses in this aspect.
“We will point out these lapses to our LGUs and national government agencies. We will do that and reiterate the reminders,” she added.
For national government agencies, they can utilize their staff house or dormitory to isolate their employees who were tested, as she mentioned that there are government agencies that have been requesting for swab testing. (With a report from PNA/PN)
