MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) has identified the shifts and stations of its employees who contracted coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19.)
The rail line suspended its operations yesterday after nearly 200 of its employees tested positive for the virus.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it has recorded 198 COVID-positive employees – 177 depot personnel, three train drivers, two control center personnel and 16 station personnel – as of yesterday.
The MRT-3 said the infected ticket sellers had shifts from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and from 4:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Ticket sellers from the Quezon Avenue station who were on duty from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. tested positive.
GMA-Kamuning station personnel who contracted the virus were on duty from 4:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. while COVID-positive ticket sellers from the Cubao station were on duty from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and from 4:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The MRT-3 said the passengers who may have had direct contact with infected personnel are advised to observe their condition and undergo home quarantine.
“The MRT-3 management assures that it is doing the necessary measures to be able to maintain the health and safety of its employees and passengers,” it said.
The management started disinfecting all its stations and facilities yesterday. The rail line’s operations will be suspended until July 11.
Malacañang advised passengers who had contact with MRT-3 employees to undergo tests or self-quarantine.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) shoulders the costs of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
“If you have symptoms, you can undergo PCR test because that’s part of the guidelines of DOH (Department of Health), which covers those with symptoms and those who had exposure. That will be shouldered by PhilHealth,” he added.
The temporary suspension of MRT-3 operations was approved through Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution No. 52.
Roque said 90 buses would be deployed to fill the gap caused by the suspension. A total of 190 buses will also be deployed along the EDSA Busway, from Monumento to Quezon Avenue, and from Estrella to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.
Four additional median bus stops would be open starting today at Santolan, Ortigas and Guadalupe, Roque said. There will also be a mini bus loop from Timog to Santolan.