29 Marikina market workers test positive for COVID-19

Twenty-nine workers at the Marikina Public Market have tested positive for COVID-19, leading the city government to implement stricter health protocols.

The positive cases were identified through targeted testing, where 66 out of 2,000 market workers initially tested reactive via rapid tests and subsequently underwent confirmatory PCR testing.

All 29 infected individuals were asymptomatic and have been transferred to a quarantine center in Marikina.

To reduce crowd density, Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro has implemented an alternating scheme, allowing only a limited number of stalls to operate daily.

While some vendors are experiencing reduced income due to fewer customers, they understand the necessity of these health measures for public safety.

Mayor Teodoro emphasized that this compromise in earnings is acceptable in exchange for the overall safety and to avoid a complete market closure or lockdown.