THE City Health Office (CHO) has lifted the temporary shutdown of three big business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in the city which recorded high numbers of COVID-19 cases.
Acting City Health Officer Ashley Lopez on Wednesday said even despite their resumption of operations, the companies have been monitored “Nag-reopen na ang tulo ka dagkong BPOs nato diri na ginatawag nga Big 3 pero dunay monitoring gihapon every two weeks,” he said.
These companies were among those workplaces that have recorded high cases of the virus which prompted the city government to order their temporary shutdown.
But Lopez also urged the public to ensure that home transmission of the virus is minimized as he cited a case where someone from Manila who returned home infected led to the spread of the virus to his relatives.
Although he said most of those infected were those whose age range between 20 and 39, there were a few cases where those infected were children.
“Children are being affected by this surge. Dili jud ta magkumpyansa, magbantay jud ta,” he said.
The closure of the workplaces has also prompted the city government to order massive tracking and testing of those exposed in these workplaces, which even included banks and government offices.
“Part of the surveillance swabbing atong mga workplaces. More than 50 percent hinungdan sa transmission naa sa workplaces,” Lopez said, urging establishments to ensure that their employees follow minimum health standards like wearing of masks, frequent washing of hands and physical distancing.
He also urged those experiencing influenza-like symptoms to get screened so that interventions can be taken and not lead to the spread of the virus.
He pointed out that monitoring of those positive cases in the workplaces could help control the spread of the virus especially if the places are enclosed. “Problema man jud ang ventilation kay fully-air conditioned man,” he said.
He urged establishments to ensure that air can circulate as well set up separate entry and exit points in their offices.
the transmission does not end in the workplaces because when employees return to their homes, they can transmit the virus to their family members. Such was the case, Lopez said, of a family in Manila. A COVID-19 positive who comes home would infect everybody else in the family, including children.
Lopez added that most of Davao City’s case index recorded COVID-19 patients aged 20 to 39 years old but there are current active cases of children. COVID-19 patients who are minors are being isolated at the City North Inn and La Vida Inn.
“Children are being affected by this surge. Dili jud ta magkumpyansa, magbantay jud ta (We should not be complacent, we should stay alert),” he said.
Davao City logged 397 active COVID-19 cases out of the 3,302 total tested as of June 16, with 47 new recoveries, and two deaths. This brings the total to 4,022 active cases (from 20,664 confirmed cases); 15,831 recoveries; and 811 deaths.
The City Health Office (CHO) bared that the lockdown of three big business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Davao City, which recorded several COVID-19 positive cases, was recently lifted.
City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez, during the COVID-19 Alert program of the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on June 16, said, “Nag-reopen na ang tulo ka dagkong BPOs nato diri na ginatawag nga Big 3 pero dunay monitoring gihapon every two weeks (The Big 3 BPOs here have reopened but they will be monitored every two weeks).”
Dr. Lopez said BPOs, along with commercial banks, were among offices and workplaces that logged high incidences of COVID-19 cases, which resulted in them being locked down.
“Part of the surveillance swabbing atong mga workplaces. More than 50 percent hinungdan sa transmission naa sa workplaces (The workplaces are part of our surveillance swabbing. More than 50 percent of the origin of COVID-19 transmission are in workplaces),” Lopez said.
He said they have been reminding establishments to enforce the observance of minimum public health standards among their employees.
He said, “Reiterate gyud ang pagsunod sa public health standards. Dapat naay surveillance sa office, naay mag-monitor sa atong mga empleyedo (They should reiterate the observance of the public health standards. There needs to be surveillance in the office, somebody to monitor the employees).”
Lopez said symptoms and influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) should be screened immediately, otherwise, it would lead to the spread of COVID-19 transmission.
He also said that more than one COVID-19 positive case in an office or an establishment, depending on how huge it is, can be an indication of a possible lockdown in an office or area.
“Problema man jud ang ventilation kay fully-airconditioned man (There is a problem in the ventilation as the office is fully-airconditioned),” he said as he cited the high incidence of coronavirus cases in banks, where the airflow has no exit and air just recirculates.
Lopez suggested to establishments to put up exhaust fans to help in air circulation, although he said it’s still important to have different entrance and exit points for people in offices.
With “recirculation” of air, the CHO official said a COVID-19 carrier who enters a bank would really put everybody inside at risk of infection.
However, the transmission does not end in the workplaces because when employees return to their homes, they can transmit the virus to their family members. Such was the case, Lopez said, of a family in Manila. A COVID-19 positive who comes home would infect everybody else in the family, including children.
Lopez added that most of Davao City’s case index recorded COVID-19 patients aged 20 to 39 years old but there are current active cases of children. COVID-19 patients who are minors are being isolated at the City North Inn and La Vida Inn.
“Children are being affected by this surge. Dili jud ta magkumpyansa, magbantay jud ta (We should not be complacent, we should stay alert),” he said.
Davao City logged 397 active COVID-19 cases out of the 3,302 total tested as of June 16, with 47 new recoveries, and two deaths. This brings the total to 4,022 active cases (from 20,664 confirmed cases); 15,831 recoveries; and 811 deaths.
