38 out of 45 COVID-19-positive RITM employees recover

MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-eight of the 45 employees of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) confirmed to have the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were able to recover from the respiratory disease.

Meanwhile, seven of the institute’s staff still remain under quarantine, but all are in stable condition with mild to no symptoms, the RITM said in a statement on Tuesday.

Recovered staff and those who tested negative for the coronavirus have since reported for work.

The RITM was also already able to test 1,280 of its employees from April 18 to 24, 1000 of which have already received their results.

Those who are still waiting for their test results are asymptomatic and are currently under strict monitoring.

The RITM earlier had to scale down its laboratory operations due to an outbreak of the disease in its employees. The institute had to test its personnel for COVID-19 as well as disinfect its premises.

READ: RITM scales down lab operations as coronavirus infects 43 employees

The Department on Health (DOH) on Sunday reported that the RITM has already resumed its full operations.

READ: RITM resumes full laboratory operations

“On behalf of the RITM family, I would like to thank the public for their understanding, kindness, support, and prayers. Indeed, there is no need for communities to discriminate or fear us, as we have humbly served—and will continue to serve—the Filipino people despite all adversities,” RITM Director Celia Carlos said.

“We are doing all that we can, as a family with shared hardships and a connected history, to curtail the impact of our struggles from spreading to other aspects of our social relationships and obligations,” she added.