MANILA, Philippines – Ninety-eight individuals in the House of Representatives tested positive for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) following a mass testing conducted in the lower chamber.
In a statement on Tuesday, House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza said the number represents nearly five percent of 2,000 House lawmakers and employees who underwent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing since November 10.
Mendoza, however, did not say how many of these individuals were House lawmakers and personnel.
“It’s the first time a mass testing was conducted in the House since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March, and this happened less than one month after Speaker [Lord Allan] Velasco assumed office,” he said.
According to Mendoza, almost all COVID-19 positive cases were asymptomatic.
“All those who tested positive were directed to self-isolate to avoid passing the virus to others and immediate tracing of their close contacts was conducted,” he said.
Prior to November 10, the House already registered more than 80 COVID-19 cases since March. Almost all of them have recovered, except for two lawmakers and three employees who succumbed to the disease.
The testing laboratory commissioned by the House has reported the cases to the Department of Health, while the chamber’s in-house medical service made proper coordination with concerned Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams, Mendoza said.
The Lower House will also continue to operate under strict health and safety protocols as it coordinates with the Quezon City government for the conduct of a more extensive contact tracing, he added.
Visitors are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result before they can be granted access to the offices inside the complex.
All those entering the House need to wear masks and face shields, pass through thermal scanners and disinfection machines, and observe physical distancing at all times.
House members, employees and guests are required to submit an accomplished health declaration form to inform the chamber of their health status before being allowed to enter its premises.
All offices and buildings within the complex are also disinfected daily.
The House of Representatives is conducting a hybrid session that combines physical presence with teleconferencing to tackle legislative measures.
The post House records 98 new cases after COVID-19 mass testing appeared first on UNTV News.