COVID-19 patients can vote in isolation polling places – Comelec

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — COVID-19 patients can vote in isolation polling places (IPP) on election day, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia said Thursday.

“Pwede po basta po sila ay papayagan makalabas po doon sa kung [saan] sila ay naka-isolate, halimbawa’t lalong-lalo kung sila ay nasa isang isolation facility. Of course po, wala po kaming guidelines kung saan ‘yung balota ay dadalhin mismo sa isolation facility,” Garcia said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(They can as long as they would be allowed to leave the place where they are isolating, for example, in an isolation facility. Of course, we do not have any guidelines on ballots being sent to isolation facilities.)

“’Pag po ganu’n kahit po may COVID-19, wala naman po sa aming patakaran na hindi sila pabobotohin,” he said.

(Even though a person has COVID-19, it is not in our guidelines top revent them from voting.)

Garcia, however, appealed to COVID-19 patients and individuals experiencing symptoms on election day to wear a face mask and even a face shield.

“Kaya lang, ang pakiusap po namin kung saka-sakali kahit du’n sa mga may nararamdaman lang po, mas maganda sana kung pupwede again, face mask. Kung okay lang sa inyo, kung pupwede, mag-face shield na rin lalo pa’t sa inyong palagay meron na talagang test result na kayo ay may COVID-19,” he said.

(Our appeal to those experiencing symptom is to wear a face mask and a face shield, especially if you feel that your test result is positive for COVID-19.)

“Mas maganda bigyan niyo ng ng proteksyon din ‘yung mga ibang tao na makakasalamuha niyo at ‘yung makakaharap ninyo at para din maiwasan na ito ay kumalat,” added Garcia.

(It would be better to give protection to other people that you will interact with to avoid spreading the infection.)

In September last year, former Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas said that COVID-positive individuals can cast their votes in IPPs.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, however, clarified that IPPs are not for COVID patients but for voters who show symptoms upon arriving at the voting center.

“To be clear, such IPPs are intended to serve persons who present symptoms upon their arrival at the voting center on Election Day,” Jimenez said.

Earlier, the World Health Organization warned the Philippines to prepare for a possible COVID-19 surge, especially after the May 9 elections.

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