Manila courthouses closed until June 30

Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges and personnel on Thursday were told to go into isolation until June 30 after two court employees came into contact with new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients.

Executive Judge Virgilio Macaraig issued the memorandum to court personnel working at City Hall as he also ordered contact tracing for those who visited the courtrooms in the past two weeks.

The physical closure of courts was done in consultation with Supreme Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez, he added.

Courts and offices, which are located on the third, fourth and fifth floors of Manila City Hall, will be disinfected. Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) branches located at City Hall will also be placed under lockdown starting today until June 29.

Executive Judge Carissa Anne Manook-Frondozo said in a memorandum that since MeTC employees share common public spaces with RTC personnel, their court staff also have the risk of viral exposure. —Nikka G. Valenzuela