By Ellson Quismorio
The House of Representatives employee who was reported who have contracted the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has passed away.
He is reportedly the youngest Filipino to die from the dreaded disease at 41. A Manila Bulletin source said the employee’s sister-in-law and mother are reportedly assigned with the House Committee Affairs Department. They have already been tested and are awaiting results.
"Sad news. The HRep employee who was positive with COVID-19 passed away earlier today (Sunday) at 1:45 a.m.," Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles told reporters via viber.
"I hope the Secretary-General will conduct contact tracing in the HRep ASAP," he said.
Last Thursday, House Secretary-General Luis Montales bared that the said employee -- a staff from the Printing Office--had tested positive for COVID-19. The patient last reported to work on March 3.
The patient neither had travel history to countries with COVID-19 cases nor had any contact with a confirmed case. Reports said that the individual has had various health issues and had been in and out of the hospital since last year, including a lengthy hospitalization last November.
The entire Printing Office staff had since been told to undergo quarantine.
Nograles has asked his House colleagues to be mindful of symptoms in connection with COVID-19.
The House of Representatives--the workplace of the country's 302 congressmen and their respective staff--began a two-month summer recess last March 12.