Tugade

MRT-3 directs employees, workers consultants to undergo COVID tests

January 5, 2022 Jun I. Legaspi 541 views

AS a precautionary measure on the post-holiday return of employees and the uptick in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, the MRT-3 has directed all its employees, as well as workers from its maintenance provider and consultants, to undergo mandatory antigen testing, with a confirmatory RT-PCR test for those who will test positive.

This move is pursuant to the directive of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade to ensure that all transport stakeholders, including passengers and railway personnel, are protected against Covid-19, and for the virus to not spread in the trains, stations, and depots.

The first batch of antigen tests were done on Monday, January 3, 2022. Out of the 696 total MRT-3 personnel tested, 99 tested positive.

Those who tested antigen positive will undergo a confirmatory RT-PCR test. Them, as well as their identified direct contacts, have been required to go on quarantine, until re-tested and confirmed negative.

Antigen testing and confirmatory RT-PCR testing will continue for the rest of the week until all personnel are tested.

The earlier announced random antigen testing of consenting and volunteering passengers will commence within the week.

Meanwhile, physical reporting in the depot is limited to 60%, pursuant to the Alert Level 3 guidelines of the IATF.

The MRT-3 Management is also implementing additional health and safety protocols to further limit the interaction between stations personnel and passengers. All passenger-facing personnel are required to wear full personal protective equipment (face mask, face shield, gloves, and gowns) to avoid contact between themselves and passengers.

Inside the depot, protective barriers in individual work stations of all personnel have been installed since last year, along with proper hand hygiene and sanitation facilities. Regular temperature checking on all entry points is also observed. Disinfection of all facilities is also religiously followed.

The MRT-3 Management assures the public that necessary measures are being observed to protect the health and safety of all of its employees and passengers.

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