Manila Golf Club closed after workers get coronavirus

Upscale Manila Golf and Country Club Inc., the exclusive golf club in upscale Forbes Park, Makati City, suspended operations on Friday to pave the way for a stringent disinfection of premises after eight of its kitchen staff tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Malarayat Golf Club in Lipa City likewise suspended operations starting Friday until Monday (March 22) after three members tested positive for the coronavirus.

With the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, other leisure clubs have also tightened their protocols.

In the case of Manila Golf, where many rich and famous people hang out, one waiter, six food preparation staff and one roving snack cart employee tested positive for the virus.

“This is a matter of concern considering that several other employees have yet to be tested,” San Agustin Albina, general manager of Manila Golf, said in an official advisory dated March 18.

As such, Albina said the club would be closed starting March 19 until further notice, “in order to pave the way for high-level disinfection of the entire premises and on-site testing of all of its employees, as well as contractual personnel.”

“The board will continue to closely monitor developments and will take the necessary precautions to safeguard the health and well-being of all of our members, employees, their families and the neighboring community,” he said.

Malarayat Golf Club also disclosed that three members had tested positive for coronavirus after undergoing confirmatory reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests.