MRT-3 employees with COVID reach 172

MANILA, Philippines — Forty-five more personnel of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019, bringing to 172 the number of MRT-3 workers infected with COVID-19, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced yesterday.

Of the new cases, 39 are depot personnel and six are station employees, according to Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran.

Libiran said four of the station personnel with COVID-19 are ticket sellers, one is a nurse and another is a train driver.

She said two of the ticket sellers were assigned at the Cubao and North Avenue stations.

Libiran clarified that the ticket sellers had no contact with the virus-infected depot personnel.

She said a majority of those who contracted the virus were maintenance personnel of the MRT-3.

Those who tested positive for COVID-19 were brought to quarantine facilities at the World Trade Center in Pasay, Philippine Arena in Bulacan and Philsports complex in Pasig. Other employees are still waiting for the results of their confirmatory swab tests.

With the infected personnel undergoing treatment and isolation, the MRT-3 management announced it would deploy fewer trains beginning today.

The number of trains could be reduced to around 10 or 12 from the original deployment of 16 to 19, the DOTr said.

The MRT-3 initially reported 127 COVID-19 infections among its personnel last week.

With the spike in COVID-19 infections in the major rail line, the management said it would enforce temperature checks and submission of health declaration forms by employees twice a day.

Operations of the MRT-3 would be suspended on four weekends from July to September to give way for rail replacement works.

The railway had resumed operations at limited passenger capacity after quarantine restrictions were eased in the National Capital Region.