Makati establishments visited by quarantine violator disinfected, staff tested

MANILA, Philippines — Two commercial establishments in Makati City that were visited by a COVID-19 positive Filipina from the United States who violated quarantine protocols, have been temporarily closed for disinfection and testing of their respective staff.

The management of Kampai, in an Instagram post on Thursday, said it will reopen once it assures the safety of its staff and their customers.

“We have come in close contact with someone who was positive with COVID-19. Safety to all our customers and our staff is our utmost priority,” the bar’s management said.

“In light of this, we will be taking safety & precautionary measures before reopening. All staff will quarantine and be tested before operations resume,” it added.

Meanwhile, the management of Mijo, the restaurant visited by the quarantine evader, said the restaurant’s fully-vaccinated staffers have already been tested for COVID-19. The staffers have tested negative, the restaurant said.

“We have done the necessary steps to monitor our staff for symptoms and facilitated COVID testing. Fortunately, our fully-vaccinated staff has all tested negative,” read a separate Instagram post from the restaurant.

“Rest assured that the restaurant has been sanitized. More importantly, we are making sure that all who may have come in contact with the person of interest be informed as soon as possible,” it added.

Mijo and Kampai, both located in Barangay Poblacion in Makati, were visited on December 23 by the Filipina who skipped the mandatory quarantine after arriving from the United States on December 22. The woman later tested positive for COVID-19 after her swab test on December 26.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the woman “boasted of having connections” after skipping quarantine and attending a party.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the woman may have infected 15 people. He also advised those who were in the same establishments she visited to get tested and isolate themselves.

The Bureau of Quarantine and the Department of Health has already prepared a complaint against the quarantine violator.