PLM on 14-day lockdown after virus struck employees

MANILA, Philippines — The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) was placed under a two-week lockdown starting this Monday after four of its employees were confirmed to have the coronavirus disease 2019.

In a statement on Sunday, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said he approved the request of the university for a campus lockdown for 14 days as employees undergo quarantine.

The university, through its COVID-19 Task Force, earlier made the request to Moreno following an emergency meeting amid rising active, probable and suspected cases within the campus.

“All transactions will be carried out fully online in the next two weeks, including the registration period for freshmen which starts August 3. Other requirements and processes will have to be coursed through e-mail with respective departments and offices concerned,” PLM President Emmanuel Leyco said in a statement also on Sunday.

There are currently four confirmed cases among PLM employees, with two recovered patients and one fatality. There are also three probable and one suspect cases.

“University officials are monitoring their situation as well as that of their close contacts. While records do not suggest that there is community transmission in campus, PLM is taking these steps as precautionary measures,” Leyco added.

Following this approval from Moreno, the PLM will adopt a strict work-from-home setup for employees within the period to slow down the spread of COVID-19 among its workers.

During the lockdown, Leyco said only employees who are “highly essential” and who cannot bring home their workload such as information technology and server maintenance staff, disinfection and sanitation crew, and security personnel will be allowed inside the campus.

Visitors are not allowed to enter the campus grounds, while document submissions will be accepted as deliveries, according to Leyco.

EDV