Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Sotto orders lockdown of Senate for disinfection after resource person tests positive for COVID-19
Philippines
Sotto orders lockdown of Senate for disinfection after resource person tests positive for COVID-19
Sotto orders lockdown of Senate for disinfection after resource person tests positive for COVID-19
Published Mar 11, 2020 12:00 am
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
The Senate of the Philippines will be placed on lockdown starting tomorrow, Thursday (March 12) after one of the resource persons in a recent Senate hearing tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III
(CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN) Senate President Vicente Sotto III, in an interview with GMA News' State of the Nation Wednesday night, said he has ordered the lockdown of the Upper Chamber's building in Pasay City to pave the way for the disinfection of its premises and "other important measures" that have to be done. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian earlier said one of the resource persons who attended the Senate basic education committee hearing last March 5 tested positive for COVID-19. Sotto said he was informed about it "this afternoon (Wednesday)." He said he has also ordered a review of the closed-circuit television footages in the Senate to trace the individuals who had direct contact with the infected resource person. The blue ribbon committee's hearing on the alleged money-laundering scheme in POGOs scheduled for Thursday was also cancelled. Sotto said he has spoken to Sen. Richard Gordon, blue ribbon panel chair, who agreed to the move. Sotto said the lockdown may last until "over the weekend." "We will just announce when the Senate hearings would resume," he added. After the confirmation, Gatchalian said he and his staff will undergo self-quarantine for 14 days, although he says he is now "feeling healthy." Sen. Nancy Binay, who also attended the hearing of the Gatchalian panel last week, said on Wednesday night that she will do the same. "I have asked my staff to do the same and take precautionary steps to limit face-to-face interactions," she said in a separate statement. "With close to 50 people already been tested positive, it only shows that the exposure to the virus is real, and there's a high chance that someone out there is a carrier," she added. Binay continued: "This is a serious public health matter and I enjoin everyone who came in contact with me in the past week to take the same precautions and observe all the basic hygienic processes. Let us continue to pray for the containment of the corona virus -- prayer will always be our first line of defense." The Senate on Monday has suspended sessions due to increasing risks of coronavirus infection. Operations of the public assistance center which receives requests for medical and financial assistance have also been suspended to limit the number of visitors entering the building. "We were forced to go on lockdown because of this event. That why I apologize to those who want to seek assistance from the Senate, we would have to suspend it for the meantime until we disinfect the Senate," Sotto said.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III(CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN) Senate President Vicente Sotto III, in an interview with GMA News' State of the Nation Wednesday night, said he has ordered the lockdown of the Upper Chamber's building in Pasay City to pave the way for the disinfection of its premises and "other important measures" that have to be done. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian earlier said one of the resource persons who attended the Senate basic education committee hearing last March 5 tested positive for COVID-19. Sotto said he was informed about it "this afternoon (Wednesday)." He said he has also ordered a review of the closed-circuit television footages in the Senate to trace the individuals who had direct contact with the infected resource person. The blue ribbon committee's hearing on the alleged money-laundering scheme in POGOs scheduled for Thursday was also cancelled. Sotto said he has spoken to Sen. Richard Gordon, blue ribbon panel chair, who agreed to the move. Sotto said the lockdown may last until "over the weekend." "We will just announce when the Senate hearings would resume," he added. After the confirmation, Gatchalian said he and his staff will undergo self-quarantine for 14 days, although he says he is now "feeling healthy." Sen. Nancy Binay, who also attended the hearing of the Gatchalian panel last week, said on Wednesday night that she will do the same. "I have asked my staff to do the same and take precautionary steps to limit face-to-face interactions," she said in a separate statement. "With close to 50 people already been tested positive, it only shows that the exposure to the virus is real, and there's a high chance that someone out there is a carrier," she added. Binay continued: "This is a serious public health matter and I enjoin everyone who came in contact with me in the past week to take the same precautions and observe all the basic hygienic processes. Let us continue to pray for the containment of the corona virus -- prayer will always be our first line of defense." The Senate on Monday has suspended sessions due to increasing risks of coronavirus infection. Operations of the public assistance center which receives requests for medical and financial assistance have also been suspended to limit the number of visitors entering the building. "We were forced to go on lockdown because of this event. That why I apologize to those who want to seek assistance from the Senate, we would have to suspend it for the meantime until we disinfect the Senate," Sotto said.