CLARK FREEPORT -- The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has started checking body temperatures of people, including workers, residents and transients going to and from Subic Freeport, in line with its precautionary measure against the novel coronavirus.
"SBMA issued memorandum for locators, employees, residents and other stakeholders of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in the agency's precautionary measures and other safety programs to combat nCoV," SBMA Chair and Administrator Wilma Eisma said.
She said body temperature check is conducted in designated sentries and pedestrian gates.
According to Eisma, this is in view of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The general guidelines include mandatory temperature scan for all foreign nationals, the SBMA head said.
"All foreign nationals, whether a pedestrian or aboard a vehicle (including companion) going to Subic Bay Freeport, either by land, sea or air, will be scanned for body temperature," Eisma added.
Individuals with body temperatures of 38 degrees and up will be denied entry and advised to seek medical attention, she said.
The SBMA issued a temporary banning of Chinese and Filipinos who travelled from China and its administrative regions.
The agency has also ordered a 14-day mandatory quarantine for persons coming from any place in China.