Philex Mines Covid cases reach 23; workers tested

>> Tuesday, November 3, 2020

TUBA, Benguet -- More than 200 employees of a large scale mining company here have been swab tested for Covid-19 following   cases within the mining community.
    Philex Mining Corp. legal officer Eduardo Aratas said the mining company   started conducting   expanded testing of its employees through a private testing facility in Baguio City to assure their health and safety. 
    This was separate from testing as part of contact tracing procedures for the Covid-19 positive cases.
    Aratas said  the company   initially targeted  1000 employees for the expanded testing , but is  now looking at the possibility of  including dependents of its employees in the testing. 
    The Philex Mines Supervisory Employees Union and the Philex Rank and File Employees Union have  requested the mine company to conduct mass testing of its employees following the surge of Covid-19 cases in the mining community.
    In Oct. 14, Philex recorded five Covid-19 cases following community transmission.
    The cases increased to 25 as of Oct. 23 with the contact tracing done by the Tuba Municipal Health Office and through the expanded testing by the mine company.
    All patients have been contact traced and are now admitted at the Benguet General Hospital and the Temporary Treatment and Isolation facility in Wangal, La Trinidad for further monitoring and treatment.
    Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan immediately placed the mining community on temporary lockdown under Executive Order No. 038-10-20 and enhanced community quarantine protocols were strictly imposed. The lockdown is still in effect until further notice.
    Sal-ongan urged constituents to stay home and strictly observe all health protocols.
    She discouraged holding of social gatherings to prevent spread of the virus. -- JDP/RMC- PIA-CAR 

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