Companies told to report COVID-19 cases, contacts

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has reminded all commercial establishments nationwide to submit a list of COVID cases and close contacts in the workplace.

In an advisory, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma stressed the need for companies to comply with the updated guidelines on COVID-19 response and case management.

Laguesma said the submission of reports to the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units intends to promote the safe re-opening of the economy and contain the transmission of COVID-19 in workplaces.

Under the guidelines, Laguesma said establishments are mandated to submit the list of COVID-19 cases and close contacts in their workplaces. The report to be submitted by the safety officers shall include investigation details on sources of transmission.

According to the DOLE, private establishments must comply and align company policies with government issuances on COVID-19 response.

Aside from COVID reports, DOLE said, companies are also required to submit an Employer’s Work Accident and Illness Report through the DOLE Establishment Report System.

Health centers

To prevent overcrowding of patients in hospitals, the DOH urged the public to seek consultation first in “super health centers” located in their respective barangays.

“In line with efforts to decongest our hospitals, we have started creating these super health centers wherein basic (medical) tests are being offered, thus there is no need to go to a higher level health facility,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a press briefing Monday.

The health official appealed to those with primary health cases to avail of the services being offered at these health centers. “Let us help our hospitals focus on patients in need of immediate hospitalization. A doctor, nurse, dentist, midwife and nutritionist are assigned in our health centers and basic equipment are also available there to help you address your concerns so that there will be no need for you to go to the hospital,” Vergeire said.

At the same time, the DOH also called on the public to be vigilant against illnesses being experienced during the “ber” months.

“There are diseases that we should be wary of during this season, especially those with symptoms similar to COVID-19. Asthma attacks, flu, fever, cough, these are not necessarily COVID but we should be equally vigilant of these diseases,” she added, urging the public to adhere to minimum public health standards.

She also urged local government officials to heighten their surveillance system for illnesses with COVID-like symptoms.

Earlier, the DOH said hospital admissions involving non-COVID cases have been increasing and that hospitals are nearing full capacity because of non-COVID admissions. –  Rhodina Villanueva