By Jun Ramirez The Bureau of Immigration (BI) closed yesterday its main office in Intramuros, Manila and suspended operations to undergo disinfection after one of its employees tested positive for COVID-19. Bureau of Immigration (MANILA BULLETIN) BI Commissioner Jaime Morente ordered the bureau's general services section to immediately conduct the disinfection and sanitize all offices inside the BI main building. "We have decided to temporarily close our main office to protect not only our employees but the transacting public as well against this deadly virus," the BI chief said. He advised those who have secured slots via the BI's newly-launched online appointment system to defer their transaction as they will be notified later about the new schedule of their appointments. "We assure the public that our main office will be back in business as soon as we have finished disinfecting our building. Please wait for further announcements," Morente said. He also advised concerned parties to always view the BI's website at immigration.gov.ph where important advisories and announcements are regularly posted. Morente added that other BI satellite and extension offices in Metro Manila remain open for business this Monday. According to BI acting spokesman Melvin Mabulac, the employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was among the hundreds of BI employees who underwent rapid antibody test conducted at the main office last week. "He initially tested positive in the rapid test conducted last June 2 so he was subjected to a confirmatory swab test. The test result showing he has the virus came out last Friday," Mabulac said. He disclosed that the employee's office mates were already directed to immediately undergo mandatory tests to determine if they, too, have acquired the virus.