Mass testing underway in Subic Bay Freeport after 14 port workers test positive for COVID-19

by Joanna Rose Aglibot, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 17 Aug 2020

SUBIC, ZAMBALES —- The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Monday began the mass testing for over 200 port workers following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a port area inside the Subic Bay Freeport.

Wilma Eisma, SBMA chair and administrator, said 14 workers of the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) had tested positive for the virus between August 4 and 7, prompting the agency to conduct an extensive tracing and testing to contain the transmission.

In a statement, Eisma said the COVID-19 outbreak began when a worker from SBITC who had no history of travel to any high-risk area manifested symptoms of the disease and eventually tested positive for the virus.

The other cases were the patient’s fellow workers and close contacts.

SBITC president Roberto Locsin said all other company personnel, including 238 shift workers, port users, security personnel, canteen staff, and even SBMA checkers, would undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

LZB