COVID forces Senate to close; House extends its lockdown by a week

There will be a “total closure” of the Senate building next week due to the high number of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infections within its premises, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said on Friday.

This as the House of Representatives will remain under lockdown until next week thanks to the threat of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the House leader said in a statement on Friday.

In a Viber message to reporters, Mr. Sotto noted that “there are now 46 active COVID positive cases, employees in the Senate.”

He added that, “175 employees are also under quarantine due to exposure and manifestation of COVID symptoms, and are still waiting for swab test results.”

Heeding the recommendation of the Senate medical team, the Senate will close from Jan. 10 to 17 to conduct a thorough disinfection and to lessen contact among employees to prevent or slow down the transmission of the virus.

The Senate chief noted that five of the medical bureau’s own staff are under quarantine, and this has depleted their workforce. “They find it hard to attend to the needs of the employees.”

Therefore, “nobody can enter the Senate premises except those that will do the disinfection on Jan. 8 and 15,” he said.

HOUSE SHUTTING DOWN

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lord Allan Q. Velasco said that its lockdown will be extended by a week.

“We have decided to extend the lockdown by another week from Jan. 10 to 16 as a precautionary measure to protect the health and safety of House members and employees in view of an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases in NCR and adjacent provinces.”

Due to the current surge of infections, the House has been on lockdown since Tuesday.

The House chief said that regular work in the House will begin on Jan. 17, when it is scheduled to meet for its first plenary session after the Christmas holidays. However, only 20% of the workforce will be allowed into the building starting on Monday.

Mr. Velasco has directed House Secretary General Mark Llandro L. Mendoza to strictly implement the lockdown. Lawmakers were also instructed to remain at home since they could access committee meetings, public hearings, and other events in the House online.

“Now, more than ever, it is important to continue to wear face masks, maintain proper physical distancing, practice good hygiene, and get vaccinated. For those who have already completed their primary doses of COVID-19 vaccine, get your booster shot once you’re eligible,” Mr. Velasco said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan and Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan