No COVID-19 outbreak in House, Secretary General says

Opening of the 18th Congress at the House of Representatives. Contributed photo.

MANILA, Philippines – House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza insisted Wednesday there is no outbreak in the lower chamber even after its mass testing efforts yielded 98 coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-positive cases among its members and employees.

In a press briefing, Mendoza said the 98 positive cases only comprised five percent of the total individuals covered by the mass testing.

“Hindi naman natin siya matatawag na outbreak kasi consistent, parang five percent lang siya actually ng total tested natin so hindi natin pwedeng sabihin na outbreak. Kasi natatakot pag sinasabi na outbreak,” Mendoza said.

(We can’t say it’s an outbreak because it’s only five percent of the total number of individuals who were tested. People get afraid when we call it an outbreak.)

“Example na lang, tingnan ninyo, sa national pag nagco-conduct [ng testing], noong una kunti [ang cases]. Noong nag-conduct ng mass testing, lumobo. Dito sa atin, di natin pwede i-consider na outbreak kasi five percent lang e tsaka mild lang yung cases natin sa House,” he added.

(For example, before there were few cases. Then when we had mass testing, the cases increased. Here, we cannot consider this an outbreak because it’s only five percent and the cases in House are just mild.)

Mendoza likewise denied that the transmission of the virus among its members and employees originated in the House.

“Most of the 98 is community transmission. Maganda rin na nakita natin, at least na na-identify natin,” Mendoza said.

(Most of the 98 is community transmission. It’s good that we detected them, at least were able to identify the cases.)

“Kasi may kumakalat na dito nanggaling sa House. Hindi totoo ‘yun. Galing talaga sa labas. Hindi nag-originate dito sa House yung transmission,” he added.

(Because there are rumors that it came from the House. That is not true. It’s from the outside. The transmission did not originate in the House.)

The 98 COVID-19 cases in the House, however, only covered the period of November 10 onwards or those who were covered by the mass testing.

Prior to this, the House’s Medical and Dental Service (MDS), in its November 11 update, said there are 93 COVID-19 cases in the lower chamber—most of whom have recovered.

Pressed by reporters for the grand total of COVID-19 cases in the House, Mendoza could not give an exact number, insisting that the 93 cases previously reported by the MDS have already been “cleared.”

Mendoza also said there is no need to close down the House to control the coronavirus.

“No need na i-close natin yung House kasi kung everyday naman nagc-conduct ng sanitation at disinfection at same time Friday wala namang pasok, may time pa rin,” Mendoza said.

(There is no need to close down the House because we conduct sanitation and disinfection every day. At the same time, there are no offices on Friday so there is time.)

Strict protocols in Batasan

Mendoza earlier said strict health protocols are being implemented in the Batasan complex in response to the pandemic.

The Secretary General said lawmakers and House workers are required to undergo regular testing, especially when going inside the plenary hall.

Visitors are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result before they can be granted access to the offices inside the complex and everyone entering the House needs to wear masks and face shields, pass through thermal scanners and disinfection machines, and observe physical distancing at all times.

Mendoza added that House members, employees and guests are also required to submit an accomplished health declaration form to inform the chamber of their health status before being allowed to enter its premises.

Other measures being implemented in the House include the cleaning and disinfection of all offices and buildings within the complex are done on a daily basis and the conduct of a hybrid session that combines physical presence with teleconferencing.

CFC