MANILA, Philippines?(UPDATE2) As the House of Representatives returns to work today after a six-day break due to the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, no congressman has so far tested positive for the virus, House secretary general Marilyn Barua-Yap said in a press conference Monday.

No new cases have been detected in the House, she said. And although 10 more employees have undergone tests, their results have not returned.

On Monday, Congress employees were welcomed by masked personnel carrying hand-held thermal scanners.

Speaker Prospero Nograles had said stringent measures would be put in place to avert the spread of the virus, whose first fatality turned out to be a House employee. At least three other employees have been tested positive for the virus, prompting the House leadership to shut down work last Tuesday.

The chamber has at least 3,000 employees.

Several, but not all, of the security personnel at the gates of the complex and at the entrance of the buildings wore face mask as they greet the employees, members of the media, and guests. Those who pass the scan get a yellow sticker that says ?fever free.?
Hand-held thermal scanners have been placed at the south gate and the doors leading to the south-wing building, north-wing building, and the Mitra building.

All persons entering are required to undergo the procedure for screening temperature as an indicator for possible H1N1 virus infection.

But at the north-wing entrance, while employees queued for their turn to be scanned, Davao Oriental Representative Thelma Almario, 76, just walked past the personnel administering the scanning.

There are 18 thermal scanners being used in the House right now, purchased between P18,000 to P20,000 each. Yap said Congress is planning to get more units.

?Even if doctors say it?s safe?we want to assure the staff that we are doing everything humanely possible to protect them from the virus,? Yap said.

She said her office also awaiting the delivery of the second batch of some 3,000 vaccines for all House employees and personnel. The chamber earlier acquired 2,000 vaccines that have been used for the employees. Each vaccine was bought at P300 each.

Yap said those that would be tested positive for the virus would immediately be sent home for the prescribed 10-days quarantine. She said those who will also exhibit high temperature through the thermal scan would be advised not to proceed with their business in the House.

She said there would be no ?sunset provision? as to the thermal scan and other measures being enforced to fight H1N1 in the chamber.

Several employees complained about the long queue, making them late for work.
Genaro Penas, a media staff, said he arrived 10 minutes early but had to spend time lining up to be scanned. He said there should have been at least two scanners at every entrance to avoid the build-up of employees and guests.

Nancy Tuazon, a library staff, echoed the suggestion of having more thermal scanners, saying employees would always be late for work if the situation at the entrance would be this way every day.

Rey Amante, a staff of a congressman, said he had no problems undergoing the scanner as it was a required procedure to make sure that no one has the symptoms of the virus.

Nograles appealed for understanding and cooperation from the House employees.

?We have done our best and we are ready to help employees of the House. But they need also to help themselves by observing the guidelines issued by the health department,? he said in a text message, adding that employees should ?rest, wash hands, take cold tablets, plenty of water, and keep six feet away from the crowd.?