PROTOCOL for the

Provincial Government Employees

Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

 This protocol applies to all employees of the Provincial

Government Employees, who anticipate close contact with
persons with confirmed or possible COVID-19 in the course of
their work.
 This guidance is based on what is currently known about the
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) both DOH Advisories and
WHO.
 COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to
person.
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

 As public servants activities of the government is essential, if our

government operations were interrupted, resuming normal or
phased activities it is vital to have guidelines on COVID-19
preparedness, response, and control plans and procedures.

 All Provincial Departments should implement and update as

necessary a plan that is specific to every department or
workplace, identifies all areas and job tasks with potential
exposures to COVID-19, and includes control measures to
eliminate or reduce such exposures.
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

A. PREPAREDNESS MEASURES FOR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

OPERATIONS: (Prevent and Reduce transmission)

i. Conduct daily health checks (e.g., symptom and/or temperature screening)

of employees and client before they enter the building; personnel or client
who have a temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius shall not be
allowed to enter the premises of the Government Building and shall
immediately be advice to go home;

ii. In implementing health checks, building security guards are advice to wear
PPE and conduct them safely and respectfully. Department/Offices/Divisions
shall implement social distancing, barrier or partition controls, or personal
protective equipment (PPE) to protect the employees as well as the clients.
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

A. PREPAREDNESS MEASURES FOR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

OPERATIONS: (Prevent and Reduce transmission)

iii. Conduct a thorough hazard assessment to determine if workplace hazards

are present especially frontline services, or are likely to be present, and
determine what type of controls or PPE are needed for specific job duties.
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

B. Educate employees about steps they can take to protect themselves at

work and at home.
C. Encourage employees to follow the policies or procedures related
toillness, cleaning and disinfecting, and work meetings and travel.
D. Advise employees to:
i. Stay home if they are sick, except to get medical care, and to learn what to
do if they are sick.

ii. Inform their supervisor if they have a sick family member at home with
COVID-19 and to learn what to do if someone in their home is sick.
iii. Wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or to use
hand sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

E. Practice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched objects

and surfaces such as workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, and
doorknobs.
F. Avoid using other employees’ phones, desks, offices, or other work
tools and equipment, when possible. Clean and disinfect them before and
after use.
G. Practice social distancing by avoiding large gatherings and maintaining
distance (at least 6 feet) from others when possible.
H. Temporary suspension of the use of bio-metrics.
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

I. For employees who commute to work using public transportation or

ride sharing, consider offering the following support:
i. If feasible, offer employees incentives to use forms of transportation that minimize
close contact with others (e.g., biking, walking, driving or riding by car either alone or
with household members).
ii. Ask employees to follow the DOH guidance on how to protect yourself when using
transportation.
iii. Allow employees to shift their hours so they can commute during less busy times.
iv. Ask employees to clean their hands as soon as possible after their trip.
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

J. Identify a workplace coordinator who will be responsible for COVID-19

issues and their impact at the workplace.
K. In the event that a member is tested positive or with a close contact
with a positive case, the following procedures shall be undertaken;
1. Implement lockdown procedures;
2. Prepare list of members in close contact and immediately prepare transport
requirements to testing facility;
3. Evacuate the Building with their individual Go Bag in hand and proceed for
immediate RT-PCR test for immediate testing;
4. Isolate to designated Quarantine Facility at Mambukal Resort until results are
available;
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

K. In the event that a member is tested positive or with a close contact

with a positive case, the following procedures shall be undertaken;
5. Positive members shall be quarantined at designated Quarantine Facility;
6. Swab test shall be labelled “Urgent” and shall be prioritized at the testing lab of
the Province;
7. Submit close contact details for immediate contact tracing;
8. Personnel of the Provincial Government shall be a priority at the Quarantine
facility at Mambukal Resort Hotel.
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

K. In the event that a member is tested positive or with a close contact

with a positive case, the following procedures shall be undertaken;
9. Determine which employees may have been exposed to the virus and may
need to take additional precautions:
10. Inform employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace
but maintain confidentiality.
11. Department heads also have an obligation to manage potentially exposed
workers’ return to work in ways that best protect the health of those workers, their co-
workers, and the general public.
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

K. In the event that a member is tested positive or with a close contact with a
positive case, the following procedures shall be undertaken;
12. Give employees, customers, and visitors what they need to clean their hands
and cover their coughs and sneezes:

 Provide tissues and no-touch trash cans.

 Provide soap and water in the workplace. If soap and water are not readily available, use
alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is at least 70% alcohol. Ensure that adequate supplies
are maintained.
 Ideally, place touchless hand sanitizer stations in multiple locations to encourage hand
hygiene.
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

K. In the event that a member is tested positive or with a close contact

with a positive case, the following procedures shall be undertaken;

12. Give employees, customers, and visitors what they need to clean their hands
and cover their coughs and sneezes:
 Place posters that encourage hand hygiene to help stop the spread at the entrance to
your workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.

 Discourage handshaking. Encourage employees to use other noncontact methods of

greeting.

 Alter workspaces to maintain social distancing.

Examples include: Configure partitions as a barrier shield
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

L. The following LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES shall be implemented

upon detection and discovery of a positive member.

a. All computers shall be shut down and all electrical equipment shall be shut off;
b. Files and information shall be confined and protected;
c. Lock all rooms and work areas secured;
d. Close the building and immediately request for decontamination;
e. Decontaminate all areas of the work place and seal off for three (3) days;
f. No persons shall be allowed in the premises without proper authorization and entry
to the Area shall require the use of full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

M. QUARANTINE PROCEDURES
a. All personnel who are classified as Persons Under Monitoring (PUM) shall be
quarantined at Mambukal Resort and shall be prioritized for accommodation;
b. Families of PUMs in close contact of the positive case shall also be accommodated
at Mambukal Resort;
c. Hygiene kit shall be provided to all PUM personnel upon check in;
d. All quarantined personnel shall stay at their designated rooms and shall not loiter or
visit other rooms until results will be available;
e. All personnel shall follow all house rules of the quarantine facility;
f. No person shall be allowed go out the Quarantine Area without proper permission
of the Quarantine Administrator;
Protocol for the Provincial Government Employees

N. RECOVERY AND RETURN TO WORK

a. Upon receipt of the RT-PCR Negative Test Result of a close contact or
suspected, members shall be given seven (7) days home quarantine;
b. Upon receipt of the RT-PCR Negative Test Result of a positive case, members
shall be given seven (7) days home quarantine and/or complete his/her 14day
quarantine;
c. Employees under PUM / Suspect / Probable / Confirmed case under quarantine
must be considered on special leave with pay;
d. Number of days in quarantine and recovery period will not be deducted against his/
her leave credits;
END