(CNN Philippines, June 13) — Operations at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office or POLO in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will temporarily be suspended as six of its officers and staff tested positive for coronavirus disease, an official said.
“The objective of the temporary suspension is to prevent the escalation of infection among POLO staff and its clients and to allow the conduct of a thorough disinfection of the office premises,” Labor Attache Nasser Mustafa said in a statement posted on the Department of Labor and Employment website.
All POLO officers and staff will be working from home in the meantime, said Mustafa, adding that they will “respond to calls, offer consulting services to clients and provide counseling to overseas Filipino workers in distress on a 24/7 basis.”
Mustafa said all 37 POLO personnel were tested for coronavirus after two of their colleagues contracted the virus.
The Department of Foreign Affairs reported on Friday that the total number of infected overseas Filipinos was 5,490, including 1,048 verified by the Health department.
