2 NAIA cops test positive for Covid-19

FILE: Facade of Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. (Photo By Mithril Cloud at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – Two airport police officers detailed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), an official said on Wednesday.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Public Affairs Department’s officer-in-charge Consuelo Bungag said the two are asymptomatic, and are now undergoing home quarantine monitored by their village officials

Since March, MIAA has already recorded 11 airport workers who tested positive for Covid-19.

“The data that we have is only MIAA organic employees, and MIAA service providers,” Bungag said.

Six out of the eleven are organic or permanent employees. The figure includes the two police officers, who are also the latest cases.

Bungag said the other four employees have been back to work.

Five of the eleven confirmed cases belong to service providers, which include administrative support services and janitorial services.

“Out of these five, only two are not yet reporting for work,” Bungag said.

She, however, did not comment whether the MIAA knows if the two workers are currently confined in a hospital, or if they are undergoing home quarantine.

In a previous interview, MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said they only receive reports about the NAIA workers infected with Covid-19 from their respective local government units.

Unless their respective barangays report the case to them, the MIAA would not know it, he said.

Monreal said workers at NAIA have been provided with face masks and personnel protective equipment (PPE) based on the guidelines set by the Department of Health.
They have been reminded to always observe physical distancing and proper hygiene, such as the washing of hands and use of sanitizers, he added.

Meanwhile, in a MIAA memorandum circular dated May 21, its medical division was tasked to monitor the health of employees, and attend to those exhibiting symptoms.

The terminal administration was asked to ensure that disinfection activities in their areas are done consistently throughout the day.