By Jhon Aldrin Casinas
Amid the threat of the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (nCoV-ARD), all city officials and employees of Mandaluyong City government who recently went on a trip abroad will now be required to undergo a 14-day mandatory self-quarantine, Mayor Carmelita Abalos said.
(Photos courtesy of Mayor Menchie Abalos FB page)
In a memorandum circular dated Thursday, Abalos ordered all city officials and employees who have traveled abroad recently, “regardless of the purpose, duration, and place visited,” to subject themselves to a 14-day self-quarantine in the safety of their homes or “other secluded place deemed necessary.”
“During the 14-day period, he or she shall not be entitled to any salary or compensation unless he or she has applied them as official leave of absence,” the memo read.
An official or an employee who underwent the two-week quarantine can only again report for work when they have been cleared by the City Health Department.
The city’s Human Resource Management Department head was also tasked to ensure that the concerned official or employee has complied with the circular.
“Noncompliance or refusal to comply with this Circular by any concerned official and employee shall be considered a misconduct, insubordination and/or dereliction of duty, and shall be dealt with administratively under existing laws, civil service rules and regulations,” the memo read.
It continued that the memorandum circular shall take effect immediately, and will remain in force until revoked or set aside.
As of Thursday, there are still three confirmed cases of nCoV-ARD in the country. The Department of Health has earlier said that of the three infected persons, one has died due to severe pneumonia.
The fatality, a 44-year-old Chinese man from Wuhan, China, was the first confirmed death outside China, according to the World Health Organization.