More gov’t media workers get virus

New coronavirus cases in Malacañang’s premier communications arm and its attached units continued to rise, with a total of 72 active cases so far.

Data released by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) showed that the National Printing Office (NPO), an attached agency, has the highest number of COVID-19 infections at 32.

This was followed by the PCOO’s main office at the Palace compound, which has 24 active cases so far.

An attached agency, the Apo Production Unit, recorded nine active cases, followed by the state-run People’s Television Network (PTV) with five active cases.

Office work suspended

Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM), also known as the Presidential Broadcast Staff, has one active case while the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) has one active case as well.

The PCOO reported that so far, 15 recoveries were reported across the PCOO main office, Apo Production Unit, Bureau of Broadcast Services, PIA, PTV, and RTVM.

Meanwhile, three COVID-19 deaths were recorded across the PCOO main office, Apo Production Unit, and PTV.

The PCOO’s main office has indefinitely suspended work at the New Executive Building in the Palace complex following the surge in COVID-19 infections.

Its attached agencies such as the PIA, RTVM, PTV, and NPO similarly imposed temporary work suspensions to give way for disinfection, contact tracing and testing of affected employees.

This temporary lockdown has resulted in the scaled-down operations of the RTVM, which airs presidential events, and PTV, which limited its programming this week.