SONA attendees should be fully vaccinated, tested negative for virus

Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Those physically attending President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address (SONA) should be fully vaccinated and tested negative for coronavirus.

According to the advisory addressed to the Senate, those entering the House of Representatives plenary hall, where Duterte will deliver his speech, should be fully vaccinated—this includes the two-week interval following their second dose of the vaccine.

All members of Congress are likewise required to submit a negative RT-PCR test result undertaken not more than 48 hours prior to entering the House plenary building, the advisory noted.

On top of this, the advisory added that all members of Congress and their staff entering the plenary building shall undergo a confirmatory sofia antigen swab test on July 26, to be conducted by the Presidential Security Group Medical Group at the North Wing Lobby of the House.

“The Presidential Security Group has required that only those who have tested negative to both the RT-PCR and antigen tests will be allowed to enter the plenary building,” the advisory stated.

Duterte is set to deliver his final SONA on Monday, July 26.

On the morning of SONA, the 18th Congress—which is composed of the Senate and the House—will open its third regular session.

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JPV