Up to 25 staff of a business outsourcing company (BPO) in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) tested positive for COVID-19 after holding beach and pool parties.
“Naka spread po ‘yan mula noong Nov. 7 ‘yun po ang unang case pero after nagkaroon ng beach party doon po nagkaroon ng surge ang tinatawag natin na clustering of cases. But this is attributed to the gathering, sinasabing beach at pool parties,” said Ronnie Yambao, deputy administrator of SBMA Public Health and Safety Department.
(It has been spread since November 7. That was the first case, but there was a surge in what we call clustering of cases after there was a beach party. But this is attributed to the gathering, said to be beach and pool parties.)
According to Yambao, unauthorized gatherings were held in Zambales and Olongapo, outside the jurisdiction of the SBMA.
“Kung may health protocols na na-violate sa loob ng Freeport ‘yun po ang titingnan namin dahil po ang jurisdiction ng Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority ay loob lang po ng kaniyang territorial jurisdiction,” Yambao explained.
(If there are health protocols that have been violated within Freeport, that is what we will look at because the jurisdiction of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is only within its territorial jurisdiction.)
25 BPO workers acquire COVID-19 after beach, pool parties in Subic
He said based on the report sent by the unnamed BPO company, its management allegedly did not know that holding mass gatherings of employees is prohibited.
“Nag conduct ng very stringent contact tracing ang kumpanya at SBMA at na find out mga closed contacts. Lahat naka-isolate na. ‘Yung mga close contact at infected nasa mga isolation facilities ng mga local government units,” he said.
(The company and SBMA conducted very stringent contact tracing and found out closed contacts. Everyone is isolated. The close contacts and infected are in the isolation facilities of the local government units.)
The company assisted all its COVID-positive employees.
“Nagbigay pa sila ng assistance kung sila po ay di makakapasok ng 14 na araw dahil sa pag-isolate ito po ay ‘di kakaltas sa sweldo nila,” he said.
He added the BPO company would be given penalties for their negligence.