Interim Guidelines for

COVID-19 Preparedness and

Response in the Workplace
(DOH-DM No. 2020-0056, CVCHD RM No.
2020-0061)
I. Rationale:

> with and increasing number of COVID-19

cases, the DOH issues this guidelines for all
employees and workers for both public and
private on the necessary precautions to
PREVENT, CONTAIN, and MITIGATE the
POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION of COVID-19 in the
workplace.
II. Guidelines
A. General Preventive Measures:
1. Cough Etiquette
a. Cough and sneeze by covering mouth and nose with
tissue, handkerchief or shirt sleeve
b. Disposed used tissues properly and disinfect hands
immediately
2. Hand Hygiene
a. wash hands thoroughly w/ soap and water on a regular
basis
b. Use alcohol-based sanitizers when soap and water is not
available
II. Guidelines
A. General Preventive Measures:
3. Personal Protection
a. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
b. Mandatory use of facemask and face shield at all times
c. Maintain social distancing (at least 3 ft or 1 meter away
from each other)
d. Avoid going to crowded places, mass gatherings or areas
with local or community transmission
II. Guidelines
A. General Preventive Measures:
4. Environmental measures
a. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and
objects (tables, doorknobs, desks, computer key
boards, light switches, etc.)
b. Maintain cleanliness of the office especially the
common-use areas ( elevators, railings, staircases,
pantry, comfort rooms, etc.)
c. Make dispensers with alcohol-based hand rub available
in public areas.
II. Guidelines
A. General Preventive Measures:
5. Food Safety Measures:
a. Avoid consumption of raw or undercooked animal
products. Handle raw meat or any meat products to avoid
contamination w/ uncooked food, as per good food safety
practices.
II. Guidelines
A. General Preventive Measures:
5. Food Safety Measures:
b. When visiting live animal markets, wet markets or animal
product markets:
1)Practice general hygiene measures (regular hand-
washing w/ soap and water) after touching animals and animals products
2) Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with hands
3) Avoid contact with (a) sick animals or spoiled animal
products (b) stray animals ( c) potentially contaminated
animal waste or fluids
II. Guidelines
A. General Preventive Measures:
5. Food Safety Measures:
c. DO NOT slaughter SICK animals for consumption.
Bury or destroy dead animals
Avoid contact w/ their body fluids w/o protective chlothes
II. Guidelines
B. Screening and Triaging:
1. At least two (2) health allied personnel shall be assigned in
the ENTRANCE of the office who shall perform the following:
a. Check the Temperature and assess the health status of
incoming staffs and clients (daily)
b. Appropriately advise those who are SYMTOMATIC Clients
b.1. advise to go to the nearest health facility check-up and
follow IPC protocols. They shall not be allowed to enter the
office premises.
II. Guidelines
B. Screening and Tracing:
b.2. For Symptomatic employees/staff
b2.1. MILD (w/ cough and/or cold, no fever)
> Assess further for relevant travel history, exposure and the
need for RT-PCR testing
> Advise to stay at home for 14 days and strictly follow IPC
protocols
> Give appropriate management of symptoms
II. Guidelines
B. Screening and Tracing:
b.2. For Symptomatic employees/staff
b2.2. Moderate (w/ cough, and/or colds, low grade fever)
( Temp. =37.6-37.9 C)
> Assess further for relevant travel history, exposure and the
need for RT-PCR testing
> Advise to stay at home for 14 days and strictly follow IPC
protocols
> Give appropriate management of symptoms
II. Guidelines
B. Screening and Tracing:
b.2. For Symptomatic employees/staff
b2.3. Severe (w/ cough, and/or colds, high grade fever)
( Temp. =above or equal to 38 C w/ or w/o difficulty of
breathing)
> Assess further for relevant travel history, exposure and the
need for RT-PCR testing
> Refer the worker to the company healthcare provider or to
the nearest hospital for evaluation and management.
II. Guidelines
B. Screening and Tracing:
c. Facilitate the filing out of health declaration card by all incoming
clients.
d. Ensure that ALL employees/clients logged-in using the
designated logbooks for visitors and employees
e. Guide/direct clients to their destination
2. All profiles, records and assessment shall be documented and filed to
the facility health care staff in charge
II. Guidelines
B. Screening and Tracing:
3. All screened/triaged clients/employees shall be referred to the
facility health care staff in charge for appropriate action
4. ALL staff in the screening area shall wear appropriate PPEs and
shall be equipped with alcohols, sanitizers, logbooks, reporting
forms and other equipment to be used for screening.
C. Isolation and Management of Symptomatic Employees
1. Provide the staff with face mask, face shield and medicines to
alleviate symptoms
II. Guidelines
C. Isolation and Management of Symptomatic Employees
1. Provide the staff with face mask, face shield and medicines to
alleviate symptoms
2. Immediately isolate in a separate well-ventilated room in the
workplace away from other workers.
3. REFER to hospital for evaluation and proper management
4. DECONTAMINATE the work area w/ appropriate disinfectant (e.g.
chlorine bleaching solution and 1:100 phenol based disinfectant)
II. Guidelines
D. Notification, Referral and Reporting
1. The Company Safety and Health Officer shall report
(a) symptomatics
(b) asymptomatics w/ history of travel to
Municipalities/Cities w/ Local or Community transmission
( c) asymptomatic with history of exposure
to the MHO/CHO for verification and initial investigation.
2. MHO/CHO should report to RESU using ESR
II. Guidelines
F. Health Monitoring Team
-ensure that all employees within the facility premises are healthy condition.
1. Visit all divisions, sections and units on a DAILY BASIS to Check
for the Temperature and relevant signs and symptoms
2. Monitor via SMS/call the health status of employees in the quarantine/isolation unit and
work from home.
3. Record all assessment and report to the Company Safety and Health Officer
4. Appropriate advise, isolate and refer all employees w/ symptoms
II. Guidelines
G. Closure of Offices
1. closure is government/private offices or business
establishment and workplace is NOT recommended
-declaration should await joint assessment by DOH, DOLE
and CSC.
2. Contingency work continuity plan should be activated to
ensure non-disruption of work operations.
 THANK
YOU !!!!!