MANILA, Philippines — Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases at the House of Representatives have now reached 50 after another employee tested positive for the virus, Secretary-General Jose Luis Montales reported Friday.
Montales said the congressional staff reported for work on August 17 and 18 and is not a close contact of any confirmed case in the House.
Contact tracing is underway, said Montales.
Montales earlier reminded employees to only physically report for work when physical presence is necessary.
“Do not physically report for work when experiencing or have experienced any of the COVID-19 symptoms within the last 14 days. When in doubt, assume the COVID 19-like symptom to be COVID-19,” the House Secretary-General said.
Montales said appropriate penalties for violations of House’s health and safety protocols would be imposed.
As of August 20, there are 178,022 COVID-19 cases in the country, with recoveries at 114,114 and death toll at 2,883. [ac]