100 rail line personnel test positive for COVID-19

More than 100 personnel of Metro Manila’s rail lines tested positive for COVID-19, officials announced Monday, amid the surge in new infections being reported in the country.

According to Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) Director for Operations Michael Capati, 17 personnel of the rail line tested positive during the mass antigen testing in the depot on Monday morning.

The employees are set to have a confirmatory RT-PCR test on Tuesday, January 4.

Philippine National Railways (PNR) Assistant General Manager Celeste Lauta, on the other hand, said the rail line tested 357 employees, of whom 87 tested positive in antigen tests and were sent home for isolation.

Meanwhile, 40 employees of the Philippine Ports Authority also tested positive for COVID-19 in antigen tests.

Public transport is currently capped at 70%, as the National Capital Region returned to Alert Level 3 starting Monday, January 3. This will last until January 15, 2022, following the steep increase in new COVID-19 infections in the country.

The Philippines on Monday recorded 4,084 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s active tally to 24,992. The total caseload now stands at 2.855 million, including 2.779 recoveries, and 51,856 deaths.—AOL, GMA News