Navotas employees to get swab tests

MANILA, Philippines — Employees of the Navotas city hall will be tested for COVID-19 when they get back to work after the holidays, Mayor Toby Tiangco announced yesterday.

Tiangco said workers would undergo swab tests from Jan. 4 to 8 due to the possible spike in the number of COVID-19 infections after the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“Experts said there is a possibility of a surge in COVID-19 cases after the holidays. We deemed it prudent to have our employees tested for their safety as well as their families,” he  said.

City hall employees first underwent mass testing in June.

Employees need not undergo quarantine after being tested unless they were exposed to a positive patient or manifested symptoms of the virus, Tiangco said.

“Testing is free for all Navotas residents and non-residents employed by companies in the city. Extensive testing, coupled with immediate quarantine, isolation or treatment, could help minimize virus transmission,” he said.