The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) on Wednesday said it has shut down its main office and physical trading floor in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, to decontaminate its premises after an employee tested positive for Covid-19.
The PSE said its offices will remain shut for 24 hours starting Wednesday morning, when all employees and traders who reported for work have been asked to vacate the premises.
Stock market trading will not be affected by the closure of the trading floor as trading participants are equipped to conduct offsite trading. Business functions of the PSE will also not be hampered by the closure as its employees have an alternative work arrangement, it said.
The PSE will initiate contact tracing to identify the individuals that the employee was in close contact with when the staff member was in the premises of the exchange.
“We are deeply concerned that one of our employees tested positive for Covid-19. Because of this, we need to take the appropriate steps to curb the spread of the virus. We are closing down our premises for decontamination and for any other necessary measures to ensure that the health of our employees will not be comprised,” PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon said.
Aside from the decontamination, the PSE has asked employees who were in close contact with the staff who tested positive for coronavirus to self-quarantine.
“We will abide by the protocols prescribed by the DTI-DOLE [Department of Trade and Industry-Department of Labor and Employment] Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of Covid-19 in the event a worker is suspected or confirmed as having Covid-19,” Monzon said.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes