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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider MRT-3 commuters urged to monitor for COVID symptoms after exposure to infected train employees

MRT-3 commuters urged to monitor for COVID symptoms after exposure to infected train employees

Published Jul 7, 2020 01:57 pm

Passengers of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) who possibly had direct contact with ticket sellers who tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are advised to monitor themselves for symptoms, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday.

A train of the MRT pass by the a station along EDSA in Quezon City.
(Mark Balmores)

This, after the number of MRT-3 personnel infected with COVID-19 increased to 198, including ticket sellers from four stations, DOTr Undersecretary for Rails Timothy John Batan said in a virtual Laging Handa briefing.

"A total of 198 employees tested positive for COVID-19, 177 of which are depot personnel, three train drivers, two Control Center personnel, and 16 station personnel," Batan said.

Of the infected station personnel, the DOTr official said 15 are ticket sellers from North Avenue Station, Cubao Station, GMA-Kamuning Station, and Quezon Avenue Station.

"Ang advice sa atin ng DOH is to announce these stations upang yung mga pasahero na gumamit ng mga ticket sellers dito sa mga istasyon na ito ay mag-obserba ng sintomas at kung magkaroon ng sintomas ay pumunta sila sa kinauukulang health centers," Batan said.  (The DOH advised us to announce these stations. The concerned passengers should observe if they have developed symptoms and if the symptoms are present, they should go to their nearest health centers to confirm.)

In a separate announcement, the MRT-3 management said they also traced the working shifts of ticket sellers who contracted the respiratory disease to help passengers determine if they had interaction with the infected station personnel.

"The working shifts of the ticket sellers from North Avenue Station are 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Meanwhile, ticket sellers from Quezon Avenue were deployed from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Station personnel from GMA-Kamuning Station have a working schedule of 4:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Ticket sellers who were infected from Cubao Station were deployed from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.," it added.

The DOTr advised passengers who had direct contact with the infected personnel to "thoroughly observe their condition and undergo home quarantine" to prevent the further transmission of the virus.

The management also assured the public that it is doing the necessary measures to maintain the health and safety of both employees and passengers.  

The MRT-3 management announced on Monday that it will suspend train operations from July 7 to 11 following the spike of confirmed COVID-19 cases among its personnel.

Batan said this period may be shortened or extended, or until the management confirms a sufficient number of train personnel who will test negative and sustain limited operations.

"Sa kasalukuyan, limang araw ang suspension ng operasyon ng MRT-3, Martes hanggang Sabado ito. Mag-reresume ang operations sa Linggo, July 12, ngunit pipilitin nating kayanin na mag-resume ng mas maaga," Batan added. (Currently, the suspension of MRT-3 operations will be for five days, from Tuesday until Saturday. It will resume on Sunday, July 12, but we will try to reopen sooner.)

According to the DOTr, the temporary shutdown will be undertaken to give way to RT-PCR or swab testing of all MRT-3 personnel, including those from maintenance providers and subcontractors.

A thorough disinfection will also be done in the MRT-3 depot, stations, and trains during the shutdown period.

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