As the House of Representatives continued its wall-to-wall disinfection of its buildings, another employee has tested positive for COVID-19.
This brought to 37 the total number of House employees and officials who were confirmed to have been infected by the dreaded disease. Three have died.
Deputy Speakers Johnny Pimentel and Mujiv Hataman, together with Reps. Henry Villarica and Shamier Tan, were included among those who caught the disease.
The 37th patient is an employe of the Human Resources Management Service. He last reported for work on July 29.
The latest COVID 19 patient will be the third member of the personnel department to test positive for the disease.
As the number of COVID-19 cases soared, the House leadership ordered a thorough disinfection of all buildings at the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City.
An official revealed that committee hearings being conducted at the plenary hall will be cancelled for a week but regular sessions will continue.
Proposals to cancel sessions failed to get the support of the House leadership which is eyeing the third and final reading passage of the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One bill or the Bayanihan II.’
On Saturday, the Lower House information office released a summary of COVID 19 cases and an analysis of transmission circumstances prepared by the office of Secretary General Jose Luis Montales.
“The data strongly suggest that most of the confirmed cases were infected outside of HRep, i.e., while in their home province/city, while working from home, with no exposure to confirmed case in HRep, or got infected by a family member who does not work in HREp,” the document released by the House information and publication service revealed.
On Friday, House information chief Celine Buencamino advised reporters assigned to the Lower House that the media center, located adjacent the plenary hall, will be closed for disinfection starting August 6.
“In light of the rising number of COVID-19 cases and the declaration placing NCR under MECQ, we have decided to temporarily close the Media Center effective Aug. 6, until further notice, to prevent potential spread of the virus and ensure the safety of the members of the media,” Buencamino said.
She added: “We note that other agencies have also closed their media centers in our united battle against this pandemic.”
In the graph sent to the House media, six departments of the Lower House, including the offices of Buencamino and Montales, are free of COVID 19 infected personnel.
The Lower House is also readying the legislative process for the passage of the proposed 2021 General Appropriations Act that will is tentatively expected to start next week.