MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will be in a “complete lockdown” on Tuesday, March 16, after an employee, who reported for work on Monday morning, tested positive for COVID-19.
“The Senate will be in complete lockdown tomorrow,” Senate President Vicente Sotto III announced following the suspension of Monday afternoon’s plenary session.
Before this, Sotto told his colleagues that an employee from the Bills and Index Office of the Senate tested positive for the new coronavirus disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.
“He knew that his wife was positive, he attended the office this morning and they found out that he was not feeling well. They brought him to the hospital, he tested COVID-19 positive,” he said.
“Therefore, the entire Bills and Index Office is now under quarantine and so with that, we cannot do any amendments, any other bills to take up until the full sanitation is done at least tomorrow. From tonight until tomorrow, there cannot be any sessions,” he added.
Monday’s session was suspended until Wednesday. Sotto said hearings scheduled for tomorrow will be done virtually.
Three employees of the in-house catering in the Senate building also recently tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the closure of the Senate executive lounge and canteen for 14 days.
Senate employees were then advised to bring their own food and drinks “for the duration of the 14-day closure.”
Four senators have previously tested positive for the new coronavirus, namely Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Sonny Angara, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
All of them have already recovered.
COVID-19 cases have also been previously recorded among Senate employees.