A TOTAL of 180 government employees in Bacolod City, including vendors from three major public markets, underwent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCT) test for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Thursday, October 29.
Executive Assistant Ernie Pineda, cluster head on markets and Bacolod Quick Response Team, said that of 180, 117 of them are government employees assigned in sectoral concerns and 63 vendors from Burgos Public Market, Libertad Market and Central Market.
He said the swab test was conducted at Bacolod Respiratory Outpatient (BRO) Center at Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports Center (BaysCenter) and its result will be released after two days.
He said those who will be tested positive for the virus will be extracted and transferred to the city's quarantine facility.
Pineda noted that an additional of about 200 government employees assigned at three big public markets such as collectors, electricians, enforcement team, guards, meat inspectors, street cleaners, price monitoring and traffic enforcers will also undergo a swab test.
On October 27, Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Memorandum 104 that these government employees will undergo swab testing or the surveillance testing to detect if there are active Covid-19 cases operating in Bacolod markets.
"Through PCR testing, we will be able to detect asymptomatic cases and
therefore be able to identify and isolate them to stop further transmission. This will enable us to reassure the public that it's safe to go to our markets," the mayor said.
On October 10, about 1,665 vendors from three major public markets underwent swab test and 25 of them tested positive for the virus.
Leonardia earlier said the fight against Covid-19 needs the participation and cooperation of everyone to succeed. It cannot be done by the government alone.
Meanwhile, Pineda said they are also finalizing the schedule of surveillance testing for food delivery drivers in the city.
"We will complete the details so we can start the surveillance testing for the food delivery drivers. We want to ensure that our food delivery drivers are not carriers of Covid-19. They are delivering door-to-door so we should ensure that they are not infected with the virus," he said.