Facade of the Senate of the Philippines building. (FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — Starting August 8, visitors to the Senate building in Pasay City must present a negative COVID-19 test result.
After Senator Alan Peter Cayetano tested positive for coronavirus, the chamber imposed the additional requirement.
“[Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri] has given instructions. Starting Monday, all guests/visitors must present negative antigen test taken within 24 hours prior,” Senate Secretary Rey Bantug told INQUIRER.net in a message.
Another option is a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within 48 hours before entry at the Senate, an advisory released on Friday stated.
An appointment must also be set with the office to be visited.
Before entering the Senate building, visitors must also present their COVID-19 vaccination cards showing that they have been administered with primary dose/s and at least one booster shot.
The Senate will likewise implement the following health and safety standards:
- Mandatory wearing of face mask except when eating and drinking
- Observance of minimum public health standards
- Availability of hand sanitizers in common areas
- Observance of physical distancing in queues
- Observance of one-seat apart restriction during plenary sessions and committee hearings
- Prohibition of ambush interviews; Interviews will only be conducted at designated areas
- Mandatory consultation with Medical and Dental Bureau for COVID-19 symptoms
- Maintenance and observance of mandated building and office capacity
- Conduct of regular disinfection
- Health declaration forms are no longer required
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also proposed to limit visitors to those with important matters to bring to senators.
“We just have to live with COVID. But Senate should limit the visitors to those who have important matters to bring to the senators,” Pimentel said in a message to reporters.
The latest data from the Department of Health shows that the country now has 31,992 active COVID-19 cases.