ILOILO – Thirty-four of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 6’s employees positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have already recovered.
The agency’s regional office in Barangay Tacas, Jaro district has thus started to gradually normalize its operations, according to information officer Steve Cordero.
“Kami sa NIA are working on a skeletal workforce…we are accepting clients already,” said Cordero.
Minimum public health protocols continue to be observed, he stressed. These are physical distancing, wearing of facemask and face shield, and washing of hands with soap and water or disinfectant.
Cordero said only NIA-6 staff with key roles are reporting at the regional. Others have been tasked to work at home.
Work at the regional office was suspended on Aug. 5 after an initial two employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Subsequently, all other employees were subjected to tests.
A total of 36 NIA-6 employees were confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
With 34 now having recovered, only two employees are left on quarantine and still battling with the disease.
“About to complete the quarantine period na sila and hopefully wala na may madugang,” said Cordero.
Of the total 36 COVID-19-positive employees, 22 were assigned at the regional office’s compound. Fourteen others have been working from home since March 2020 “rason nga indi sila ma-attribute or ma-connect sa mga cases nga na-record sa compound sang NIA-6 regional office,” he explained.
As of Sept. 15, 527 employees of NIA-6 have already undergone testing./PN
