BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Some 144 job order (JO) employees of the city government of San Carlos, Negros Occidental were subjected to surveillance testing for possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.
Dr. Jessa Tiapon, health cluster leader of the city government’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC), said among those prioritized for the rapid antibody tests were JOs from barangays II, III, VI, Rizal and Punao.
They had their specimens collected on Tuesday at the city’s swab testing area in Barangay Rizal.
Those from barangays I, V and Palampas, on the other hand, will be tested within this week.
Tiapon said if the rapid antibody test result would turn out positive, the employee will be mandated to undergo the more accurate reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test.
The move to have the JOs undergo testing was decreed under Memorandum Circular No. 01 series of 2021 issued by Mayor Renato Gustilo to ensure the safety of employees inside the various local departments.
Under the memo, only JOs who live in high-risk areas and were properly identified and recommended by the EOC via Data Management Cluster shall be tested.
Furthermore, non-cooperation shall be dealt with accordingly pursuant to the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act./PN
