BACOLOD City – Vice Mayor Familiaran called on business establishments allowed to operate under general community quarantine to strictly follow health protocols.
Familiaran, who chairs the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), issued the call after receiving information that some businesses were allowing their employees who took COVID-19 tests to go back to work even prior to the release of their test results.
These erring establishments may face revocation of business permits, closure and appropriate charges, Familiaran warned.
Familiaran also disclosed that a business process outsourcing company allegedly allowed one of its employees to work even if the latter tested positive for COVID-19.
But according the mayor, he has yet to confirm this information.
“Once a person is COVID-19 positive, he or she is immediately extracted for isolation in a quarantine facility of the city,” Familiaran said.
He also cited an executive order issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, which requires all business establishments to designate a health or safety officer to ensure that safety protocols – like wearing of facemasks; taking of body temperature of all persons before entry in establishments; provision of isolation room in case a personnel or workers exhibits COVID-19 symptoms; and arrangement of their testing, quarantine, and treatment when necessary – are observed.
As of Oct. 10, Bacolod recorded 4,364 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Of the number, 3,424 or 78.46 percent have already recovered, while there are still 828 active cases (18.97 percent) and 112 deaths (2.57 percent)./PN
