MRT-3 now implementing contact tracing among passengers
The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) management has started contact tracing efforts with the partial resumption of the railway's operations on Monday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
To this end, DOTr management is now distributing health declaration forms for passengers to fill in and sign while falling in line and before undergoing full-body check up prior to boarding the train.
Passengers are required to state on the health declaration forms their name, address, contact number, station entry, date and time, temperature, and whether they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
According to the DOTr, this is among steps taken by the MRT-3 management to further intensify the implementation of health and safety measures for passengers as well as their employees.
"The MRT-3 management ensures the information it collects from passengers will remain private," the DOTr emphasized.
The DOTr announced on Saturday the partial resumption of its operation after it was able to gather a sufficient number of employees who tested negative for COVID-19.
Based on data released by the DOTr, a total of 1,093 depot personnel and 1,010 station personnel of MRT-3 tested negative for the respiratory disease as of Saturday, exceeding the required 1,308 personnel to resume train operations on a limited capacity.
The resumption of MRT-3 operations came following a six-day shutdown from July 6 to 12 to give way to the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR testing of all its employees.
This was after 281 personnel of the MRT-3 including depot and station staff, ticket sellers, employees of Sumitomo-MHI-TESP, its maintenance provider and its subcontractors, and other service providers contracted COVID-19.
'No phone calls and chatting'
To further prevent the possible spread of the disease, the MRT-3 management said answering phone calls and any digital devices, as well as speaking to other passengers while inside the train are prohibited.
"The additional guidelines apply because respiratory droplets that come from speaking, coughing, and sneezing can cause coronavirus infection," the DOTr explained, adding passengers should keep their face masks on at all times while onboard the train.