The Quezon City government has identified the workplace as a hot spot of COVID-19 cases, prompting it to issue additional safety guidelines.
“Reports showed that household transmission stems from one member of the household acquiring the virus from his workplace,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
“We have instructed our departments to closely look into workplaces and check if they still adhere to our health protocols. Employers must do all they could to minimize risks among their employees, especially essential workers, so they won’t bring the virus home to their families,” she added.
Data from the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) showed that of the 722 positive cases from February 28 to March 13, 2021, at least 104 cases or 14 percent of them occurred in workplaces with many employees.
On the other hand, households remain to be the most common exposure setting, where 256 cases or 35 percent has occurred.
Under the supplemental guidelines issued by the local government, Belmonte has required establishments to create a dedicated COVID-19 task force that will implement the prevention, detection, contact tracing, isolation and management strategies of their company, office or store, if feasible.
They must provide transportation alternatives for employees as far as practicable to reduce exposure on their daily commute.
Establishments must also provide separate entrances and exits to reduce mingling of foot traffic and to place hand sanitizing stations and a contact tracing log such as KyusiPass.
If practicable, employees should have lunch or breaks individually at their desks or only with employees from the same workgroup or department.