Businesses putting in place measures vs coronavirus

by Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star) – 16 Feb 2020

MANILA, Philippines — Businesses are putting in place precautionary measures in the workplace to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) has issued an advisory to its members to implement measures to prevent and control COVID-19.

All employers are directed to provide information about COVID-19 to workers, clean work areas with disinfectant and make water, soap and sanitizers available in washrooms or toilets as well as to reduce direct exposure of their workers to animals, environments and objects possibly carrying the virus.

Employers must also ensure that food available in canteens are properly prepared and cooked.

They must monitor the health of workers particularly those with fever and other flu symptoms and those who have traveled to other countries affected with COVID-19.

The disease, which first appeared in Wuhan in China, is marked by symptoms of cough and fever in mild cases, but could lead to pneumonia in more severe cases.

ECOP said employers should take steps to address imminent danger situations in the workplace.

Considered to be posing imminent danger to the workplace are those with recent travel to China or to a country or place on the World Health Organization list with local transmission or outbreak of COVID-19, those with recent contact with a person with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case as well as those showing symptoms of fever higher than 38 degrees Celsius, cough, and difficulty of breathing or shortness of breath.

If there are workers with fever, employers should provide the employee with a face mask and immediately isolate the person to prevent risk of spreading the infection.

Employers should also refer the worker to the company healthcare provider or nearest health center or hospital to be able to confirm for COVID-19.

They should also report the worker to the Department of Health by calling 8-711-1001 and 8-711-1002.

If a worker is sick with flu or fever but not COVID-19, the employer must advise the worker to stay home and keep away from work or crowds, as well as to take adequate rest and drink plenty of water, and practice personal hygiene.

In case the illness continues, workers should seek medical care.

When workers are requested by employers to stay home or to serve quarantine for reasons related to COVID-19, ECOP said the leave of absence may be charged to the employees’ annual sick or vacation leave credits.

If the leave credits are already used up, employers may grant leave of absence without pay.

“However, ECOP fully supports DOLE that employers are highly encouraged to exercise flexibility and compassion in granting additional leaves with pay,” the group said.

ECOP said employers and workers could also agree on other arrangements for the employees’ leave of absence.

While concerns on the spread of COVID-19 affected productivity of businesses due to absences of some employees, ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said operations still continue.

“If workers can work at home, some employers are allowing work from home,” he said.

As of Feb.14, the DOH said 386 patients under investigation tested negative for 2019-nCoV while there were 66 with pending test results.

There have been three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, of which one died due to the virus.