WITH the relaxation of some quarantine restrictions, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night, May19, reiterated the need for the people to observe social distancing, wear masks and obey the minimum health protocols to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
However, he repeated the statements of government agencies that private sector employees are not required to undergo diagnostic testing for the novel coronavirus, or Sars-CoV-2, the highly infectious agent that causes Covid-19.
“There is no requirement na kailangan kang magpa-test. It is not a requirement. It is not a mandatory requirement, kundi kung ginusto lang ng employer. It is not a requirement by DOLE or DTI. No such requirement exists,” Duterte said.
He said what government is emphasizing is the need to comply with social distancing, wearing of masks, frequent hand washing, proper cough etiquette and other health protocols.
Addressing both those who are required to stay home and those who are allowed to go out, return to work or pursue their sources of livelihood, Duterte stressed that the virus is still out there.
“Remember this: The loosening of the restrictions...does not mean wala na ang Covid (that Covid-19 has been eradicated). Covid will remain with us until such time that nabakunahan tayong lahat (until all of us are immunized against it),” he said.
He warned that even immunized individuals remain at risk, just as those who have been inoculated against existing diseases still get sick.
“The corona(virus) will not disappear. It is here for all time,” he added.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, who attended the meeting with the President Tuesday night, again clarified that not all private sector workers are required to undergo diagnostic testing for the virus prior to returning to work.
Based on the guidelines set by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Lopez said companies are required to ensure social distancing, require wearing of masks, provide sanitation or disinfection facilities and conduct daily thermal scanning.
Employees, for their part, are required to make a health declaration daily, indicating whether they are sick or not and disclosing any contact with an individual who has been found positive for the novel coronavirus.
If they are sick or had possible exposure to the virus, they would be required to undergo the RT-PCR (reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction) test.
“Yun lang po ang ire-require natin ng PCR test. Yun po ay alinsunod sa protocol, sa guidelines po, na binigay din sa atin ng Department of Health. In other words, hindi po natin nire-require ang lahat ng workers ay magpa-test,” Lopez said.
He said reports saying that employees are required to undergo a diagnostic test did not come from the government.
“From the government, malinaw po na kung sino lang ang may karamdaman, kung sino ang suspect, yun lang po ang ipi-PCR test natin. At may protocol na rin kung saan dadalhin,” he added.
(From the government, it is clear that only those who are sick or are suspect cases will undergo the RT-PCR test. There is already a protocol for this.)
He said the cost of a diagnostic RT-PCR test up to P8,000 is covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and private healthcare insurance providers.
“So, hindi po sasagutin ng workers. At kung meron mang lagpas pa doon ang aabutin ng cost, yun naman po ay ang kompanya na ang puedeng sumagot,” Lopez said, adding that the cost of one RT-PCR test would not reach P8,000.
Companies are also asked to provide shuttle services or provide temporary accommodation facilities nearby for their employees considering that public transport systems remain suspended in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Companies should also consider continuing work-from-home and other flexible arrangements, Lopez added.
Placed under MECQ from May 16 to May 31 are Metro Manila, Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga including Angeles City and Zambales.
Only the cities of Cebu and Mandaue in Cebu remain under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until May 31.
The rest of the country has shifted to general community quarantine (GCQ), which already allows public transport systems to resume operations at limited capacity. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)