Marina chief, 14 others test positive for Covid-19

Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Administrator Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 along with 14 other employees after undergoing RT-PCR test.

Empedrad confirmed the news Friday night but said he is now recuperating in isolation.

Daily Tribune learned from a source that Empedrad has been under the weather since 11 January, days after his inspection at the Marina satellite office in a Manila mall. He started experiencing symptoms, prompting him to start working from home, since then.

He said that the other employees, composed of 12 personnel, a utility worker and a security staff, all assigned in various offices at Marina main office in Port Area, Manila, are now in isolation. They are mostly asymptomatic.

With this, Marina asked the seafarers and other stakeholders to be mindful of their health condition if they have visited the

Marina office since 18 January.

“Stakeholders who visited or transacted business at the 3rd, 10th and 11th floors of the Agency beginning Monday, 18 January 2021 are strongly advised to monitor their health conditions and have themselves tested should they manifest any symptom of the disease,” the statement read.

Empedrad told Daily Tribune that they will intensify disinfection measures and will be stricter in the implementation of the minimal health protocol, such as temperature reading, wearing of masks and face shields, and the 1-meter social distancing.