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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House of Representatives has 69 confirmed COVID-19 cases

House of Representatives has 69 confirmed COVID-19 cases

Published Sep 6, 2020 07:17 pm

The House of Representatives has recorded 69 confirmed cases of COVID-19, after a female congressional staff caught the disease. 

"Another confirmed case today: a congressional staff who last went to HRep (House of Representatives)  on Sept. 2," House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales said Sunday night.

The House official said the infected staff experienced chills, body pain, and fever starting on Sept. 3.

"Contact tracing is ongoing," he said. 

As of this writing,  the House listed four new cases, bringing the total count to 69.

One infection case is Sorsogon 2nd District Rep. Ma. Bernardita “Ditas” Ramos, making her the ninth lawmaker to have contracted COVID-19.

This afternoon, Montales announced that two more House employees have tested positive for COVID-19. He said the first infected personnel fell ill after attending to her son whom the Lower Chamber reported earlier as a confirmed case.  

The female employee is from the Finance Department and last reported for work on Sept. 1, Montales said. 

"The second is from the Committee on Legislative Franchises who last  reported for work on August 10,” he said. 

According to Montales, currently, the House has a total of 18 active cases.

On Saturday, 1-PACMAN Partylist Rep. Eric Pineda, chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, confirmed that he contracted the disease. 

Pineda is the eighth House member reported to have caught the disease, next to Cavite 6th District Rep. Luis “Jon Jon” Ferrer IV, and Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Ruiz Daza.

Last August 10, Senior Citizens partylist Rep. Francisco “Jun” Datol died  due to complications brought about by COVID-19. 

Other House members who contracted COVID-19 are Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel, Deputy Speaker and Basilan lone district Rep. Mujiv Hataman, Sulu 1st District Rep. Samier Tan,  and Bulacan 4th District Rep. Henry Villarica.

On Sept. 5, the House recorded three COVID-19 cases, including Pineda and two employees assigned at the Oversight Committee  who last reported for work on Sept. 1 and 2, and from the Information and Communications Technology Service who last reported for work on August 24 and 26.

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