BDO employee tests positive for coronavirus

MANILA, Philippines — An employee of BDO Unibank Inc. has tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the country’s leading lender confirmed on Tuesday.

In a statement, BDO said its employee who tested positive for COVID-19 works in one of its operational offices in San Juan City.

“The employee did self-quarantine on March 10. However, the bank was informed of the confirmation on March 16,” BDO stated.

“All employees within the contact trace of the affected individual are now under self-quarantine,” it added.

BDO assured that it would extend to its employee “every support and guidance.”

The bank said it is closely coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) in taking the necessary actions.

“BDO is likewise performing detailed contact tracing with all employees and other parties that the infected employee may have come into contact with,” its statement further read.

“The affected office area, as well as the common spaces such as the elevators and toilets, are being  deep-cleaned and disinfected,” it added.

BDO has already advised all its employees “to be cautious about their wellness and hygiene to boost their immune system.”

“BDO will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure that the well-being of employees, customers and suppliers is protected,” the bank added.

President Rodrigo Duterte has already placed the entire island of Luzon under “enhanced community quarantine” as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue to rise in the country.

The Department of Health (DOH) has so far recorded 142 COVID-19 cases in the country.

Of the number, 12 have died while three patients have recovered from the disease.

COVID-19, now considered by the World Health Organization as a pandemic, has infected more than 160,000 people – killed 6,000 – in over 140 different countries and territories, including China where the virus originated.

EDV