Mayor Joy Belmonte has called on the management of workplaces and other high-risk closed facilities to strictly implement minimum public health protocols to avoid outbreaks of COVID-19.
This after 122 children and personnel of the Gentlehands Orphanage at Barangay Bagumbuhay tested positive of COVID-19, including 99 children aged 18 and below.
“Mariin nating ipinapaala na ang hindi pagsunod o hindi pagpapatupad ng minimum public health protocols ay paglabag sa RA 11332. Dapat maging mahigpit ang ating persons in authority sa pagpapatupad nito para maiwasan natin ang pagkalat ng virus,” said Mayor Joy Belmonte.
She added that the outbreak could have been prevented and “the children could have been saved from the life-threatening risks of COVID.”
According to CESU Chief Dr. Rolando Cruz, an asymptomatic adult allegedly visited the orphanage and unknowingly brought the virus, which caused the outbreak.
“Kailangang mapanatili ng mga ganitong closed long-term care facilities ang mahigpit na protocols dahil kahit isang kaso lang ang makapasok sa kanila ay madaling mahahawa ang lahat,” Cruz said.
The Office of the City Mayor swiftly attended to the needs of the facility by sending paracetamol, vitamins, hygiene kits, face masks, alcohol, and food packs.
Belmonte also instructed CESU to closely monitor everyone’s health, especially of the children, and to do active surveillance of other closed settings such as nursing homes.
“Patuloy nating papalawigin ang ating swab testing at contact tracing program para maabot ang mga gaya nitong high-risk closed facilities,” said Belmonte.