COVID cases at BGC work site hit 327

MANILA, Philippines — The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases at a construction site in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig has reached more than 300.

From the initial 17 in June, the number of workers infected with the virus climbed to 327, according to the city health office.

The local government locked down the work site amid the increase in COVID-19 infections.

The infected workers were isolated and brought to quarantine facilities in the city.

As of July 8, Taguig recorded 1,420 cases of COVID-19.

MMDA personnel infected

At least nine personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have tested positive for COVID-19, MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said.

Those infected with the virus are all office personnel at the MMDA headquarters in Makati, according to Pialago.

“There are no traffic enforcers among the positive patients,” she said.

Two of the patients are staff of MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia as well as a receptionist and a security guard at his office.

The MMDA office was placed on lockdown for disinfection until weekend.

The agency conducted rapid tests of over 1,000 employees. Those who tested positive were housed at the MMDA’s isolation facility while waiting for the results of their swab tests.

Garcia was infected with COVID-19 last March.

Pasay detainees get virus

Nine female detainees of the Pasay City jail have contracted COVID-19, prompting authorities to suspend visitation and food delivery for the inmates.

The infected detainees were brought to the isolation facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Quezon City, according to Chief Insp. Stephanny Salazar of the BJMP community relations service.

Salazar said jail guards have been cleared of the virus.

In Quezon City, nearly 900 individuals who were rounded up for violating quarantine protocols were charged by the local government before the city prosecutor’s office.

Elmo San Diego, who heads the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety, said they filed complaints against 897 people for not wearing face masks in public places.

Mayor Joy Belmonte ordered the mandatory wearing of face masks in the city to curb the transmission of COVID-19.

San Diego said the cases were lodged through online filing. The violators will be fined up to P5,000.

Journalist Howie Severino, who was among those accosted by police, was not charged as he only pulled down his face mask when he drank water.