BI personnel negative from virus
The BI frontliners were made to undergo confirmatory COVID-19 tests after they tested positive in the rapid antibody tests
Nine Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and suspected to be with COVID-19 turned out to be free from the deadly virus after testing negative in swab tests.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente broke the good news after receiving the report from the bureau’s medical section that the results of the confirmatory RT-PCR swab tests conducted to the 9 immigration personnel.
The BI frontliners were made to undergo confirmatory COVID-19 tests after they tested positive in the rapid antibody tests conducted for BI-NAIA personnel at the NAIA terminal 3 last 5 June 2020.
BI chief said that they are elated upon learning that, so far, none of their frontliners at the NAIA have been infected by the deadly virus and even as he enjoined all BI personnel manning the premiere port to continue to observe strict health protocols.
Morente disclosed that the rapid antibody tests conducted last month for 43 BI front liners at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga also yielded negative results from COVID.
He reiterated that his earlier directive for all Immigration employees nationwide to undergo mandatory rapid antibody test or they will not be allowed to report back to work. This is a necessary measure they cannot forego in the face of this continuing pandemic.
According to POD chief Grifton Medina that despite the good news that their 9 colleagues are COVID-free, still the BI-NAIA personnel should not be complacent as the battle against the virus is far from over.
He said that they immediately informed their officers about the test results but at the same time they reminded all BI personnels to always observe physical distancing, practice good hygiene and always wear protective gears like face masks, gloves and face shield while on duty, especially when they processing and interviewing passengers undergoing routine immigration inspection.
Medina added that for nearly three months the different sections and units under POD have been operating under various alternative work schemes that limit the number of on-duty personnel so long as their office outputs and services are not compromised. He also bared that in compliance with Morente’s directive, he already instructed personnel in other international ports to coordinate with local government units in their turf and arrange the conduct of free rapid COVID-19 tests for their personnel.