At least 78 of the employees from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have tested positive for the coronavirus, Commissioner Jaime Morente announced today.
Of that number, 29 people have already recovered from the respiratory disease while one is currently admitted in a hospital. Meanwhile, 44 employees are asymptomatic or are just experiencing mild symptoms. They are reportedly staying in quarantine facilities or undergoing treatment. Morente did not divulge the status of the remaining four employees but said that no BI worker has died from COVID-19.
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In addition, there were 76 other employees who were earlier told to undergo quarantine after they came in contact with persons who tested positive for the coronavirus. Dr. Marites Ambray, the bureau’s medical chief, said that 58 of them have already tested negative and have returned to work while the rest remain in quarantine.
The bureau has made it mandatory for all employees to wear both face shields and face masks as protection against the coronavirus.
“Employees who do not wear both face mask and face shield will not be allowed to work and will be sent home,” the BI said in a statement.
The BI’s headquarters in Intramuros in Manila has been regularly disinfected since July. All walk-in transactions have been suspended and the public has been told to make use of an online appointment system to ensure the implementation of physical distancing in the bureau’s office.
