The Senate may be placed under a two-week lockdown as the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country rose to over 5,000 today, sources said.

According to a source, the plan to close the Senate again is in response to the medical frontline workers’ call for the government to revert Metro Manila and some provinces into enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Once agreed upon by the majority of the senators, only the Senate’s workforce from the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms (OSAA) would be on duty.

Should senators also agree on the move, the Senate will postpone its scheduled hearings this week, particularly the Senate Committee of the Whole’s plan to investigate the fresh allegations of corruption hounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

In a separate statement, Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri expressed his dismay over the latest tally and hopes that the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or ‘Bayanihan 2’ would help protect the country’s health sector and the economy from collapsing.

“With results like these today at over 5,000 new cases. I totally support the medical frontliners call for a time out for an ECQ of 15 days para lang mapigil ang napakabilis na pagkalat ng virus na ito,” Zubiri said in a statement.

“Last time we were on ECQ we had an average of just 200 cases a day, today at GCQ it’s an average 3,000 to 4,000 cases a day. Kawawa na ang mga doktors at mga nurses sa mga ospital na punong puno na (it’s a pity to see our doctors  and nurses in our hospitals that are now full of patients),” he said.

Zubiri said that while he understands the need for the country’s economy to keep going, the government needs to prioritize the safety of all workers.

“Naipasa na namin sa Senado ang Bayanihan 2 at matutuloy nang maging batas ito para mabigyan muli ng ayuda ang ating mga manggagawa na mawawalan ng trabaho sa 15 day ECQ na ito. May the Lord bless and protect us all (The Senate has passed the Bayanihan 2 and once it becomes a law, we may provide assistance again to the workers who lost their job during the 15-day ECQ),” Zubiri said.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson confirmed the Senate’s plan saying there now appears to be a consensus among majority of the senators, “including the minority bloc,” to suspend the Senate’s sessions and heed the healthcare workers’ appeal.

“We might formalize the decision during our 2 p.m. caucus and 3 p.m. session tomorrow (Monday, Aug. 3). Since we cannot adjourn for more than three session days without the consent of the House of Representatives as provided under Art VI, Sec. 16 (paragraph 5) of the Constitution, we will have to resolve our way forward in this regard,” Lacson said in a text message to reporters.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said, he too, is supporting a 2-week ECQ in the Senate.

“Yes, I do. We all should,” Recto said.