BACOLOD City – The recent “surveillance” testing at three major public markets in this city has so far yielded 25 vendors positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
But the test results of the other 1,640 vendors were negative for the viral disease, Mayor Evelio Leonardia announced yesterday.
“Having this data now will help us assess if the safety protocols set in place by our market supervisors such as the wearing of face shield, face masks, installation of handwashing stations and imposing physical distancing, are effective,” he added.
The testing on Oct. 10 covered a total 1,786 vendors in Libertad, Central and Burgos markets, including transient vendors as well as those occupying stalls in Manokan Country.
They were swabbed simultaneously at the three major markets and their specimens were analyzed.
“The overwhelming success of the surveillance testing is attributed to the cooperation and commitment of the market vendors in our effort to fight COVID-19,” said Leonardia.
He also acknowledged the “swabbers” and other frontliners, market officials and personnel, police and Army personnel for their contribution in making the surveillance testing possible.
The mandatory surveillance testing project was implemented through the City Emergency Operations Center being supervised by retired Major General Melquiades Feliciano, deputy chief implementer of Inter-Agency Task Force-Visayas.
Under a ticketing system, vendors and co-workers who submitted themselves to the diagnostic test were issued permission tickets or market passes to gain access to their stalls inside the markets, or to be allowed to sell along the premises of the markets.
Those who cooperated had their stalls or businesses posted with the “compliant” sign.
“In the event that the vendors/co-workers tested positive, they will be extracted to be committed for quarantine/isolation under our existing policies,” according to Leonardia.
While under quarantine, those who tested positive may still continue to conduct their business in the markets through their designated in-charge who tested negative, or through any other designated person provided the latter will also undergo the same diagnostic test./PN
