The Senate decided on Wednesday, September 1, to further trim the number of employees who would be allowed to physically report for work due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in their ranks.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III, during the plenary session, informed his colleagues that there are 39 active cases of coronavirus infections among the upper chamber's employees as of September 1.
He said most affected are employees of the Bills and Index Service, where 10 tested positive for the disease.
In addition, a total of 168 employees are currently under quarantine, Sotto said.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also disclosed that one of his staff members died last weekend due to COVID-19.
The Senate's Medical and Dental Bureau asked the senators to adopt its proposed measures to address the "alarming situation" and "to stem a possible surge brought about the Delta variant."
"To address the rising number of Senate employees from both secretariat and proper offices who have been categorized as active COVID-19 cases, they are suggesting...first, reduce the number of Senate employees who will report for work on a daily basis from 50 percent to 25 percent," Sotto said, reading a memorandum forwarded by the said office.
"Only those employees with essential functions related to plenary session shall be allowed to enter the session hall," he added.
No senator objected to the Medical and Dental Bureau's proposal.
Last August 23, Senator Lito Lapid announced that he contracted the COVID-19 and was admitted to a hospital in Clark, Pampanga.
His office on Monday, August 30, said the senator has already been discharged and is currently recovering in his home.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the Senate has been holding hybrid committee hearings and plenary sessions.