All returning workers need COVID screening

MANILA, Philippines — All workers who are physically returning to their workplaces today must undergo screening for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Under the interim guidelines issued by the DOH, workers shall be screened for fever, cough, cold and other symptoms of COVID as well as their relevant history of travel or possible exposure to COVID within the last 14 days.

But Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire clarified that companies are not mandated to undertake mass testing before allowing their employees to return to work.

“We have emphasized that symptomatic screening is ideal and test only when symptomatic,” Vergeire said over the weekend, citing an interagency task force resolution stating that testing shall not be a condition to return to work.

“The IATF said in no case shall testing be a condition to return to work, so we expect specific agencies shall implement and enforce the IATF resolution,” Vergeire said.

However, those symptomatic with relevant history of travel of exposure to the virus shall be required to consult primary care provider and present certificate of quarantine completion duly issued by a healthcare facility or local health office.

DOH said employers may conduct testing in a representative sample of those who have returned to work physically and have high risk of contracting COVID due to the nature of their work.

If found positive, DOH said the returning worker shall be isolated and referred to appropriate management. All contacts of the COVID positive worker shall also isolated and tested accordingly.

A worker who initially tested negative but developed symptoms must be tested and if found positive shall be isolated as well as those whom the subject had close contact with.

DOH said a rapid antibody-based test kit approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may also be used by a company among its employees as an alternative to RT-PCR, but it must be done every 14 days.

Those who tested positive shall undergo quarantine for two weeks and should repeat the test.

Vergeire urged both workers and employers to comply with the guidelines to prevent transmission of COVID in workplaces.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have previously issued interim guidelines to govern operations of companies that will reopen today.

Bello said the guidelines provide the necessary measures to protect returning workers from COVID.

He said returning workers are required to wear masks to be provided by their employers at all times. The temperature of workers shall also be taken before entering the workplace.

Disinfectants such as soap should be available and Bello also stressed the need for employees to observe physical distancing.