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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Bello: COVID-19 tests for workers not mandatory

Bello: COVID-19 tests for workers not mandatory

Published May 18, 2020 12:00 am
By MB Online Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III clarified on Monday that employees do not need to undergo mandatory coronavirus test before returning to work. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III speaks before the media during a press conference with President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City on Friday. The government has imposed a ban on deployment of Filipino workers in Kuwait following the death of domestic helpers due to alleged abuses of their employers. (Keith Bacongco) Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III
(Keith Bacongco / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) According to a report from GMA News, Bello said only those symptomatic of COVID-19 should undergo the test. "Hindi mandatory ang COVID-19 testing. Kung symptomatic, i-test dapat. Pero kung hindi po, hindi mandatory ‘yan," Bello said. Several businesses have been allowed to operate under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). Bello reminded employers that they must comply with minimum health standards such as temperature check of workers and implementing strict measures to prevent contamination COVID-19 transmission. “We have drafted guidelines with the Department of Trade and Industry. Dapat compliant ang lahat sa minimum health standards to prevent contamination and COVID-19 transmission,” he said. Earlier, the Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a statement, "Our protocol is to guide employers. We have emphasized that symptomatic screening is ideal, and test only when symptomatic.”
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