Baguio Landbank worker gets Covid; branch closed

By Liza Agoot  

BAGUIO CITY – The management of state-run Landbank here said it indefinitely closed its branch starting August 6 after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

“Landbank assures that contact tracing and proper health and safety protocols are already being implemented and those who were in direct/ indirect contact with the employee are now in quarantine and are being monitored and given full medical support,” read an advisory issued Thursday.

The closure came several days after its Naguilian-Baguio branch also closed temporarily for the same reason.

The bank's clients have been advised to do their transactions at the La Trinidad branch.

Despite the temporary closure of both branches, the Landbank assured that automatic teller machines (ATMs) and their electronic banking channels, such as their mobile Banking App, iAccess, WeAccess, Link.BizPortal, Electronic Tax Payment System, and Phone Access remain available.

The city government recently sounded the alarm on the banking industry due to the big number of Covid-19 cases coming from the sector.

Out of the 439 who were included in the enhanced risk-based mass testing of the city government, there were 28 from the banking sector who were found positive for the disease.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed concern over the more than 6-percent positivity rate in the sector, as he ordered that all bank workers undergo swab testing.

Dr. Rowena Galpo, City Health Services Office chief, said the factors identified by the World Health Organization that makes a workplace and its employees susceptible to Covid-19 are present in banks, such as poor ventilation, tightly closed facility preventing natural air to flow in and out. (PNA)