The National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 is eyeing the construction of isolation facilities for workers of industrial and techno parks in Laguna amid the continuous rise of coronavirus infection in the province.
Secretary Carlito Galvez, Chief Implementer of the NTF COVID-19, said he had already discussed the idea with local officials of Laguna.
“The construction of these facilities is aimed at ensuring that industrial and techno park workers who may test positive for COVID-19 no longer have to return to their homes to do self quarantine, and consequently, risk infecting their families and neighbors,” said Galvez.
“This will also prevent overcrowding in isolation facilities set up by Local Government Units (LGUs) in Laguna,” he added.
Galvez said he will work together with the business managers of the industrial and techno parks businesses in identifying the areas where isolation facilities would be constructed.
Based on the data from the Department of Health, at least 34 percent of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Region IV-A are from Laguna. The majority of the 34 percent infection are from industrial companies.
Aside from setting up the isolation facilities, Galvez said the NTF COVID-19 will also focus on scaling up the testing capacity of Laguna, which currently can only conduct 400 to 600 tests daily.
“This is included in what we would do under the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine. This part of our capacity building on their testing and health care capacity,” said Galvez.
Laguna is among the four provinces placed under MECQ along with Metro Manila. The other provinces are Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan.
On his part, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año called on the LGUs to provide their health workers with all the support they need, while intensifying efforts to strictly enforce quarantine guidelines in the community.
"Let us help our health workers. Let us provide accommodation and even shuttle services. Let us take advantage of this period to decrease the cases by strictly implementing minimum health standards -- face mask, social distancing,” said Año.