The exclusive Manila Golf Course and Country Club in Forbes Park was forced to shut down after several members of its staff tested positive for COVID-19, the club management announced Friday.
Bones Floro, Secretary-General of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP), said that Manila Golf management – as a courtesy – informed the federation about the development.
“It’s normal protocol to close the club if there are positive cases. Under the Department of Health (DOH) guidelines, it’s 48 hours so the building could be disinfected,” said Floro when contacted by Manila Bulletin.
The management of Manila Golf sent an advisory to its members after 8 of 20 waiters got positive results on swab test for COVID-19. The decision to shut down, according to reports, was made by the board.
Contact tracing was immediately done as well and some 300 individuals would be tested for the virus.
Floro said that despite this latest development, the golf courses in the country, particularly in Metro Manila, have been doing their job when it comes to following the strict health protocols.
“The golf courses are actually doing very good about the protocols. Of course, COVID-19 threat is always there, you’ll never know that you have it unless you get tested, or if you have the symptoms,” he said.