MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has suspended operations in its central office in Quezon City on Tuesday, after one of its officials tested positive for COVID-19.
The closure would take effect until Aug. 2, but may be shortened or extended, depending on the general health situation.
Agriculture Secretary John Castriciones, however, assured that a skeleton workforce will be attending to critical office functions during the temporary lockdown.
The Department of National Defense (DND) also closed its doors at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on Wednesday after a senior military aide tested positive for the virus.
Normal operations will resume on July 17.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. on Tuesday said they needed to undergo another round of quarantine after coming into contact with a senior military aide infected with COVID-19 on the July 10 commissioning of BRP Jose Rizal, in Subic Bay, Zambales.
The crew of the vessel was also subjected to a polymerase chain reaction testing.
—Jhesset O. Enano and Jeannette I. Andrade