MRT-3 temporarily suspends operations for Covid-19 testing

The Metro Rail Transit Line (MRT-3) temporarily ceased operations for five days from July 7 to July 11, 2020, to allow all personnel to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or swab testing for Covid-19.

This decision by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) was prompted by a rising number of MRT-3 personnel testing positive for Covid-19.

Six station workers, including four ticket sellers, a nurse, and a train driver, had been infected as of July 5, with an additional 166 depot workers testing positive.

Operations may resume with a limited number of train sets if at least 1,300 of the 3,200 total staff test negative.

The duration of the suspension could be adjusted based on the pace and results of the tests.

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 2,099 new coronavirus infections on July 6, bringing the total to 46,333, with 1,303 deaths and 12,185 recoveries.