Hue Hotel in Boracay issues statement after temporarily closing due to a COVID-positive employee

Hue Hotels and Resorts in Boracay temporarily closed for two days, from January 31 to February 1, to conduct thorough disinfection after an employee tested for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a statement, the hotel management confirmed that one of their employees tested positive for COVID-19, after taking the RT-PCR required by the Malay local government unit on January 26.

"The employee is asymptomatic. To ensure the health and safety of our employees and guests, the employee was immediately relocated to a temporary facility in close coordination with the Municipal Health Office," the statement read.

Hue Hotel said their employee has been transferred to a quarantine facility in Kalibo.

"We are closely in touch with our employee to ensure that his needs and well-being are taken care of," the statement said. "We would like to reassure our stakeholders that all necessary actions to mitigate the risk to our employees and guests were undertaken."

According to Hue, they "did the necessary contact tracing" as soon as they were informed of the case.

While "there were no guests identified as close contacts or considered high risk as confirmed by the Municipal Health Office," Hue disclosed that there was one other employee who was identified as a close contact of the COVID-19 positive worker.

The close contact employee tested negative but will be completing the 14-day quarantine as advised.

"We conducted enhanced cleaning and disinfection of all common areas, offices, bathrooms, and shared equipment, focusing on frequently touched objects and surfaces," the statement read.

"This was done over and above the regular cleaning and disinfection procedures we undertake," it added.

The statement stressed how "Hue Hotels & Resorts Boracay has stringent health and safety protocols in place which our employees and guests adhere to."

"All employees wear the appropriate PPE while on duty, undergo daily health screening checks, and follow social distancing guidelines," it added.

"We remain committed to ensure the safety of all our guests and employees by adhering to the hotel's health and safety protocols as well as the measures instituted by the LGU and DOT."

Hue is the second Boracay hotel that halted its operations after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

On January 23, Shangri-la Boracay announced that they temporarily closed for five days after 15 of their employees tested positive for COVID-19.

As of January 31, the COVID-19 cases in Aklan reached 613. Of this number, 20 have died and 60 are active cases. —Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News