MANILA – Some 10,344 government employees tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as of August 5, the Civil Service Commission reported.
CSC figures showed the number of government personnel suspected to have the Covid-19 is even higher at 14,696.
CSC Commissioner Aileen Lizada on Wednesday said despite the number, delivery of important government services is sustained, especially that alternative work arrangements and guidelines are in place to be followed by different government agencies while several parts of the country are under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ).
Data submitted to the CSC showed that as of Wednesday, there are 153 government agencies, offices, and units nationwide currently on lockdown.
About 108 of these are found in the National Capital Region (NCR) and 11 in Region 6 (Western Visayas).
In terms of the number of government employees positive for Covid-19, Metro Manila has 7,472, followed by Central Visayas with 1,226, Region 4 (in general) with 404, and Region 3 (Central Luzon) with 290.
The Philippine Coast Guard had 676 employees who tested positive for Covid-19, 146 of these are active while 530 are said to have recovered from the disease.
Lizada said government employees found to be positive of Covid-19 are given assistance by their agencies.
She said free medical services may also be given if the employee consents to be brought to government facilities and hospitals but in the case that the employee opts to be checked or admitted to a private hospital, it will be under their personal expenses already.
Lizada added that government employees who will be required to go on a mandated 14-day quarantine due to Covid-19 –– whether they are regular, job order (JO) or under a contract of service status –– should receive their salary.
“Dapat tuloy din po (ang suweldo) kasi di nila kasalanan na tinamaan po sila (They should receive their salary because it is not their fault that they were infected). The virus does not choose a host,” Lizada said. (PNA)
