15 companies in QC being monitored due to 280 workplace-related COVID-19 infections

The Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit has been rushing contact tracing efforts at 15 companies found to have clusterings of coronavirus disease 2019 cases.

According to Saleema Refran’s report on “24 Oras,” one company started with six cases when it was reported by an employee, but the number later surged to 70 after it was reported to the local government.

“Tuloy pa rin po ‘yung transmission. Tapos magkakaiba ng floor ‘yung mga nag pa-positive ngayon. ‘Yung iba umuwi pa sa mga families nila na hindi nila alam na carrier na pala sila ng virus,” surveillance officer Joy Liwanag said.

Through a disease surveillance investigation chart, officials may determine close contacts by finding an index case and looking 14 days forward and 14 days backward for people who may have had close contact with them.

Possible breaches of infection may be found through the chart as well as areas or instances where the virus was passed. 

“Pinapatignan po talaga lahat ng CCTV kasi for investigation and for surveillance po talaga kasi kailangan nila malaman kung sino ‘yung mga nakasama,” Dcare Jemenia, another surveillance officer, said.

“Kung sino po yung mga nakatabi, kung sino po 'yung dumaan, at kung sino po talaga ‘yung probable close contact ng patient natin,” he added.

Initial tally showed that there are 280 workplace related infections in 15 companies. However, authorities fear that real figures may be higher due to the lack of cooperation of some companies.

“Ang pag-report sa health authorities, hindi sakop ng Data Privacy Act. ‘Yung COVID kailangan mabilis ang contact-tracing. Otherwise, more and more of their employees will get the infection,” surveillance unit chief Dr. Rolly Cruz said.

Employees were urged to report to the COVID-19 response center through these numbers:

• 8703-2759
• 8703-4398
• 0916-122-8628
• 0908-639-8086

— Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News