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Iloilo town closes construction firm due to Covid transmission

By Perla Lena

April 15, 2021, 8:32 pm

<p><strong>COVID IN THE WORKSITE</strong>. The municipality of Calinog in Iloilo province has recorded 27 confirmed cases at the Daewoo E&C construction company in Barangay Agcalaga as of Thursday (April 15, 2021). Calinog has 131 confirmed cases, 44 of which are active, 84 are recoveries, and three have died.<em> (Photo courtesy of Bayan ng Calinog FB page)</em></p>

COVID IN THE WORKSITE. The municipality of Calinog in Iloilo province has recorded 27 confirmed cases at the Daewoo E&C construction company in Barangay Agcalaga as of Thursday (April 15, 2021). Calinog has 131 confirmed cases, 44 of which are active, 84 are recoveries, and three have died. (Photo courtesy of Bayan ng Calinog FB page)

ILOILO CITY – The municipality of Calinog in Iloilo province has ordered the temporary suspension of the operations of the Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. (E&C) and its office in Barangay Agcalaga will be closed until April 28 due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) transmission in the workplace.

The temporary suspension will pave the way for further contact tracing and mass swabbing, Mayor Francisco L. Calvo said in his Executive Order (EO) 35 signed on Thursday and which took effect immediately after Calinog recorded 27 infections from the construction firm.

In a phone interview, municipal administrator Rachel Manero said their index case was a Korean national who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 13.

The worker underwent a swab test as a requirement in returning to South Korea.

Manero said they suspected infection in the area because the patient has been staying at the Daewoo compound for quite some time.

The local government unit (LGU) immediately deployed its contact tracers and received feedback that many of the employees were already manifesting symptoms.

A rapid test conducted by the company nurse showed positive results so they were sent for swab testing on April 14.

The swab test results released early Thursday showed 26 additional confirmed Covid-19 cases: 13 Koreans and 13 Filipino staff.

The local positive cases are on home quarantine while the Korean nationals are being quarantined at Daewoo’s isolation facility.

“We wanted to know the extent of the infection,” she said, adding that based on information provided to them, they need to trace about 400 close contacts.

The EO also closed all entry points leading to their office in Barangay Agcalaga, including entry points located in barangays Alibunan, Banban, and Pequeño.

“This is going to last until April 28 or until further notice, depending on how massive the transmission has become,” Manero said, adding that only last week, the LGU was able to contain previous local transmission.

However, it is looking at a massive spread this time, considering the volume of people and the manner of transmission.

She noted that depending on the result of the swab tests, the LGU is also allowed to impose a lockdown.

A more intense protocol will be issued once it is determined that cases have spread outside the Daewoo community, she said.

As of April 15, Calinog has recorded 131 confirmed cases, 44 of which are active, 84 are recoveries, and three have died. (PNA)



 

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