The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) main office will be suspending work on Thursday and Friday (July 9 and 10) to give way to the complete sanitation and disinfection of all its offices and adjacent premises after four agency personnel tested positive for the virus.
MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim also ordered the immediate lockdown and sanitization of the offices of the four infected personnel and contract tracing.
“Upon the recommendation of the MMDA Covid-19 Committee, we have decided to suspend the operations at all our offices for sanitation and disinfection to protect not only our personnel but also the transacting public against the virus,” Lim said.
Lim ordered that those who have made contact with the virus-infected personnel to strictly comply with the 14-day quarantine period and be subjected to swab tests.
All personnel will be allowed to go home at 2 p.m. on Tuesday as their workplaces will undergo sanitation and disinfection procedures until Sunday.
“We assure the public that our offices will resume operations as soon as we have completed the sanitation and disinfection of our all offices by Monday,” said Lim as he reminded that no employee shall be allowed to enter any office during the sanitation and disinfection period.
Others employees who tested positive in the rapid test were also made to undergo swab test and quarantine according to protocol.
The MMDA has its own isolation facility to accommodate employees exposed to persons with Covid-19, tested positive on rapid test, and for those awaiting swab test results.
The 800-square-meter isolation facility, located at the MMDA’s parking area, has two sections for suspected and probable cases.
Each section of the isolation facility has a 24-bed capacity equipped with shower rooms, comfort rooms and lavatories. The rooms are fully air-conditioned, with Wi-fi connection and are regularly cleaned and sanitized. Free meals are also provided.
The MMDA’s Medical Clinic is also closely monitoring and providing guidance and assistance to employees.
Meanwhile, the MMDA has put in place protocols for visitors entering the building to prevent spread of Covid-19.
“This pandemic is a difficult time for all of us and we must do everything we can to protect our personnel and visitors,” said Lim.
According to the guidelines, all visitors with official business with the agency shall initially stay in the reception area for verification if the visitor will be allowed to go to the concerned office.
Strictly no personal visits are allowed for the meantime given the high risk of Covid-19 transmission at this period.
Moreover, delivery personnel shall not be allowed to go straight to the office, or area of the ordering or recipient entity. All deliveries shall be transacted only at the reception lobby.
Likewise, visitors need to fill-up health declaration form with contact details for contact tracing purposes.