Employees of some units of the Department of Health-Western Visayas in Iloilo City will be placed under work from home status starting Monday as the office is implementing measures to avert the spread of the COVID-19.
Dr. Jane Juanico of the DOH-6 Center for Health Development Unit, said that 12 of their employees were found positive of the virus.
One employee had developed signs and symptoms after the Christmas break and tested positive.
The following day, a staff of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit turned out positive as well.
Nine more employees were found infected after the contact tracing.
Of the 12 employees, one is from the Engineering Health Facility Unit, one from the Health Promotions Office, and 10 from the RESU.
One of the patients is admitted in a hospital while two have been isolated in a facility quarantine. The rest are in strict home quarantine because they are asymptomatic.
Close contacts of these employees were already notified and were also placed under quarantine.
The DOH-6 is conducting an investigation to determine whether the virus originated in the workplace or acquired from community transmission.
Juanico said the DOH-6 Regional Office was already disinfected on Saturday, but they still have to implement a skeletal work scheme for some units.
The DOH-6 assured the public that their service will continue with precautionary measures to be required for clients coming to the office.
All visitors should wear face mask and face shield before entering the DOH-6 premises, it added. – MML
