By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante issued on Monday a memorandum order setting health guidelines for local government unit (LGU) employees as part of the ongoing efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019, or Covid-19.

Under the guidelines, LGU employees, elected or appointed officials, barangay officials as well as national employees deployed in Cadiz City are advised to seek immediate medical attention should they experience any common, less common and serious symptoms of Covid-19.

Among the most common symptoms noted are fever, dry cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, and difficulty in breathing.

Government employees were also advised to call their local doctor or health facility first before visiting them.

Escalante said that it takes five to six days when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show. However, it can take up to 14 days.

Employees were also directed to inform their immediate supervisor and head of office of their health condition.

“Further, you are hereby requested to refrain from going to work and going outside of your residence unless it is an emergency or necessary transaction,” Escalante said in his order.

For those who are co-living with someone who is/are undergoing home quarantine (locally stranded individuals, returning overseas Filipinos or close contacts) shall refrain from reporting to work.

Escalante also assured the city government employees that their salaries will not be deducted as their absences are protected under the Civil Service Code provision Memorandum Circular No. 5, s. 2020 and the Bayanihan Act.

He further said that any government employee who does not comply with the memo will be dealt with accordingly.

As of October 18, Cadiz City had a total of 182 Covid-19 confirmed cases, 37 of which are active. The city also recorded 139 recoveries from viral infection.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 deaths in the city stands at three, while 421 are tagged as persons under monitoring./DGB, WDJ