Businesses to do rapid testing on employees

A big number of businesses, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), are planning to do rapid testing on their workers to fasttrack resumption of their operations.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said President Duterte gave his support for private businesses to do rapid testing on employees. The initiative is aimed at identifying the number of infected individuals to get a grasp of the gravity of the health crisis.

Over 90 percent of MSMEs are reportedly in favor of doing rapid testing on their workers, in the hope of hastening the resumption of operations.

The President recently approved the immediate procurement of test kits from trusted suppliers. For the initial order, 2 million antibody kits will be bought at a cost that has yet to be figured, while 40,000 kits good for 900,000 confirmatory tests will be purchased at P3.2 billion.

The antibody tests will be used to detect the presence of antibodies, which can help identify those who have developed immunity to COVID-19) after recovering from it.

It is also in line with the business sector’s initiative to conduct massive testing of workers at the company’s own expense. Firms can also initiate testing of residents of nearby barangays where they operate as part of efforts to help the government in the combat against COVID-19.

Concepcion explained the rationale for their moves – “What is more important? Life or money? There is no doubt that life is more important. However, without money, how will people eat? How will people buy medicine? How will MSMEs recover? How do we bring back the economy in a sustainable way and still make it safe?”

Concepcion hopes government can shift its island-wide lockdown to a barangay level quarantine. Under this, regular work and business operations will resume, while keeping selected areas under strict monitoring, especially if they are considered hotbed areas of the virus.

“Now, depending on the number and location of the confirmed cases per area, we should consider implementing barangay quarantines, moving up to city/municipality quarantines and provincial quarantines, should a wider scale lockdown be necessary,” Concepcion explained.