By Daisy CL Mandap
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| CE Lam admits the govt is 'like working in the dark' as she announced a new round of tests for FDWs |
The
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Lam said the move is a precaution for any possible outbreaks of infectious Covid-19 variants, but conceded the government was “like working in the dark when determining appropriate public health measures.”
Taking note of the chaotic implementation of the earlier round of testing, which was done with only a day’s notice and conducted over nine days, she said the government decided to extend the testing period this time.
Those who need not go to for tests are those who had their second dose of a vaccine at least 14 days before the end of the testing period, or on or before May 17.
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The top official noted that 340,000 helpers had themselves tested during the initial round (with a further 40,000 being exempt for having taken two doses of the vaccine on or before Apr 25). Three of those tested were found infected with the mutant N501Y strain of the coronavirus.
She reiterated that the government was not pushing through with a plan to also require all FDWs to submit themselves to compulsory vaccination, after it was met with a lot of protests.
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| CG Tejada says it is 'illogical' to require FDWs to get tested and not their employers |
Consul General Raly Tejada said he immediately voiced out his concerns about the new round of testing when he and his Indonesian counterpart, Ricky Suhendar, were informed about it during separate meetings with Labour Secretary Law Chi-kwong late yesterday.
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Congen Tejada said he questioned the necessity of another mandatory test, citing the “near-perfect compliance” of FDWs to the initial round.
“I also stated that I find it illogical to not include the employers who are in the same household. They replied that it was a question of logistics to test another 1 million people (employers),” he said.
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“I did not agree to the idea of another mandatory test, saying that the government was not even prepared to meet the high demand of the first exercise. Secretary Law said that they learned from the last experience and will make the second round of mandatory testing more efficient and convenient.”
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Law reportedly assured both diplomats that employers will be asked to make appointments for their workers so nobody will have to rush, and the overcrowding that happened previously at testing centers will not happen again.
But Congen Tejada warned that the new round of mandatory testing would not go down well with the Filipino community.
