The Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) main office in Intramuros, Manila will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. It is for disinfection after three of its employees tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
During the two-day closure, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said all employees of the agency will undergo rapid anti-body tests.
And then, those whose tests turn positive will continue to have the swab tests.
“We have to take all precautionary steps to avoid the spread of this virus in our office premises, considering the large number of people who go to our main building daily to conduct business,” Morente said in a statement on Sunday.
All employees of BI will undergo a COVID-19 rapid test every month. Meanwhile, periodic disinfection of offices have to do to prevent infections, Morente added.
In August, BI said its officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport would also be subject to a rapid COVID-19 check.
“We will also advise our terminal heads in the other international ports to coordinate with the local government units in their turfs again to do another rapid testing outside Metro Manila for our front liners,” Morente said.
Last month, the bureau shut down its main office after one of its personnel contracted the respiratory illness.
BI Ban Filipinos Not to GoTraveling
The Philippines as of Saturday reported 78,412 cases of the novel coronavirus, with 25,752 recoveries and 1,897 deaths.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Saturday reminded the implementing of the public that the ban on non-essential travel is on-going again to comply with the national government’s directive.
“Again, there is no essential travel of outbound Filipinos. Non-essential travel for leisure and tourism purposes will not be able to go,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.
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