Beach, pool parties seen culprits in coronavirus infections of 25 Subic call center agents

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT– Twenty-five employees of a business processing outsourcing (BPO), or call center, company here have tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with their infections linked to beach and pool parties.

In a statement, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chair Wilma Eisma said 40 other BPO workers were quarantined after the parties which she described as superspreader events held on Nov. 14.

The infected workers either attended the parties or were exposed to co-workers who went to the gatherings at undisclosed venues in Olongapo City and Zambales province, said Dr. Solomon Jacalne, head of SBMA’s public health and safety department.

Jacalne said the employees’ behavior aggravated the difficulty in fighting the pandemic.

“Some were not honest with their health declaration,” said Jacalne.

“They didn’t say they were sick and they reported for work just the same because of the company’s no-work-no-pay policy,” he added.

TSB

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