66 Marikina market workers quarantined

Most of them are not from Marikina, but are from Antipolo City, Cainta, Pasig City and other neighboring areas

The Marikina City local government has isolated 66 workers from its public market after they were found reactive in the rapid test for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Dr. Mon Viliran, Marikina Public Market administrator, said the enhanced targeted mass testing of 2,000 stall holders, vendors, porters and helpers is part of the precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Of the 66 individuals who were found reactive in the rapid test, 45 of them are helpers.

Most of them are not from Marikina, but are from Antipolo City, Cainta, Pasig City and other neighboring areas.

“It is best that we have tested them to prevent the spread of infection, especially those who go to the market,” Viliran said.

“There were stories on social media saying that many tested positive. We are not hiding the numbers from the public. It just so happened the stories first came out ahead of the actual results,” he added.

The Marikina City Health Office started the swab test at the city’s PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) laboratory on Thursday, 11 June to confirm if the market workers were positive for COVID-19. The results of the test will be released in the next few days.

The 66 individuals are now undergoing quarantine and have been isolated and are not allowed to sell or go to the market.

“It is best to treat early those who are reactive, so that their health will not deteriorate further. More important is that we are able to isolate them so that they do not infect others. This is what we have done with the help of Barangay Sta. Elena,” Villarin said.

The City Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (CESU) will also conduct an aggressive contact tracing of the people who have been in close contact with the 66 workers and the places they usually frequented.

Viliran said, based on the initial contact tracing data of the Marikina CESU, it was found that the possible source of viral transmission at the market is a resident of Barangay Mayamot in Antipolo City.

“Our problem now is that since the city’s borders were opened during the general community quarantine, non-residents were going to the market,” he explained.

“In the next few days, there will be parts of the market that we will close to give way to massive disinfection. We might also draw up a schedule for those who will sell and buy in the market,” he added.