MANILA, Philippines — Operations of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) central office in Intramuros, Manila are suspended today and tomorrow after three employees reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said he ordered the work suspension to give way to disinfection.
“Given the number of people who transact business with the BI main office daily, we have to take precautionary measures to prevent the transmission of the virus,” Morente said on Saturday.
He said BI employees were required to undergo rapid tests during the two-day shutdown. Those who would yield positive results would be subjected to confirmatory swab tests.
Morente approved the recommendation of Deputy Commissioner Aldwin Alegre, who also heads the bureau's COVID-19 Task Force, for BI officials and employees to undergo rapid testing monthly.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard has recorded 77 new cases of COVID-19 among its frontline personnel, bringing to 503 the number of infected PCG employees.
Of the figure, 255 have recovered from the viral respiratory disease.
The PCG said the infected personnel were pulled out from their respective stations and given medical assistance.