GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The city government has stepped up monitoring on the compliance of business establishments to health and safety protocols after at least 16 workers of a shopping mall here were confirmed to have already contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Monday they are currently working with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure that establishments will strictly follow the guidelines on workplace prevention and control of Covid-19.

The guidelines were issued by the two agencies last April 30 to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in workplaces and protect the workers.

Rivera said he will issue an executive order in the coming days to reinforce the existing measures based on the national government’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards.

“We need to strengthen the implementation of the control measures to prevent our establishments from turning into Covid-19 hotspots,” Rivera told reporters.

The interim guidelines crafted by DOLE and DTI mandated employers and workers to wear face masks, face shields, and other personal protective equipment at all times within their workplaces.

Employers should provide the appropriate face masks for workers and everyone is required to accomplish daily health symptoms form, undergo temperature checks, and have them recorded in the health symptoms questionnaire.

Under Republic Act No. 11058 or “An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof,” establishments should have qualified occupational health personnel such as doctors, nurses, certified first-aiders, and dentists.

On Monday morning, the management of the KCC Mall here confirmed that some of its employees have tested positive for the disease in Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction testing facilitated by the local government.

A source from the City Health Office (CHO) said at least 16 company workers have already contracted the disease, with 15 currently active.

“There has (sic) been news these past days regarding positive Covid cases in our back-end services. It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that this is true,” the company said in a statement.

The mall’s management said it had been closely cooperating with the city government to track down all the possible contacts of the patients and put in resources to fast track detection and isolation of cases.

It also assured that the establishment continues to adhere to the highest standards of workplace safety and protocols.

“Rest assured that our front selling area and back ends are now clear due to our vigilance and immediate response,” the company said.

As of Sunday evening, CHO said the confirmed Covid-19 cases in the city already reached a total of 504, with 19 related deaths and 263 recoveries.

Of the 222 active patients, 133 are under close observation and treatment in community isolation and related facilities while 89 are admitted in the seven private and public hospitals in the area. (PNA)