The COVID-19 cases in the House of Representatives have reached 46, two of whom were reported Monday by the chamber’s public information unit.
Regular sessions were suspended August 17 and 18 to give way to massive cleaning and disinfection of the plenary hall and other areas in the Batasang Pambansa compound in Quezon City.
“We received a report that a congressional staff tested positive for COVID-19. She last went to the HRep on August 11 and met with her officemates,” bared the House statement issued Thursday night.
It was reported that the latest patient, a woman, “is not in close contact of any confirmed case” in the chamber.
Hours earlier, Secretary General Jose Luis Montales revealed that a female employe assigned to the Journal Service, tested positive for COVID 19. She has been working from home since March 23 but briefly visited her office on August 6.
Montales also reported that 34 of the confirmed patients, have already recovered, leaving eight cases still active.
Four have died from the dreaded disease, including Senior Citizens Parytlist Rep. Francisco Datol Jr. Datol was reported to have died August 10 at age 71.
Among the lawmakers who tested positive to the disease were Deputy Speakers Johnny Pimentel (PDP-Laban , Surigao del Sur) and Mujiv Hataman (NP, Basilan), and Reps. Samier Tan (PDP-Laban, Sulu) and Henry Villarica (NUP, Bulacan).