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Senate to implement stricter visitor protocols amid nCoV outbreak


The Senate was set to implement stricter visitation protocols amid the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday they would be issuing an official memorandum on Monday.

“This is what we call precautionary measures,” explained Sotto.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri meanwhile said he and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and other senators met earlier in the day to discuss the measures that would be implemented.

“We will be implementing stricter protocol on visitations due to the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus all over the world with an alarming contamination rate,” he said.

He also asked colleagues to limit their visitors.

“The Senate majority and minority have agreed to implement stricter protocols on visitation especially those seeking financial assistance due to health requirements, as well as asking our colleagues to limit visits to official matters,” he said.

 

 

Zubiri said he also spoke with House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano who said the lower house would also be implementing its own measures.

“So it is not just one house of the legislative body but both houses just to make sure that we don’t add to spreading the disease in our country,” said the senator. “This will be temporary until we see a light at the end of this very dark tunnel of this coronavirus problem.”

Over the weekend, the Department of Health announced the first nCoV fatality in the Philippines and outside China— a 44-year old man from Wuhan, China.

Two days earlier, the DOH confirmed the country’s first case of nCoV—a 38-year-old female who was a partner of the first fatality.

As of Monday afternoon, the DOH said they had 80 persons under investigation (PUIs)—two tested for novel coronavirus (the Chinese couple), 30 tested negative, and 48 others were awaiting results.

Sixty-seven PUIs were currently admitted to hospitals across the country. — DVM, GMA News

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