House complex to undergo cleaning, disinfection as precaution vs. COVID-19

The House of Representatives complex will undergo cleaning and disinfection beginning Friday until Sunday as a precautionary measure amid the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a message to reporters, Secretary-General lawyer Jose Luis Montales said the House remains free from COVID-19, with no persons under investigation nor persons under monitoring.

"The health and safety of everyone in HRep continues to be our priority. As part of our immediate measures to protect everyone against COVID-19, the HRep premises shall undergo thorough cleaning and disinfection tomorrow Friday until Sunday," Montales said.

Prior to this announcement, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate has also called for the conduct of sanitation procedures in the House during the congressional break before committees will be allowed to hold hearings.

"Kung meron mang mga committees na mag-conduct ng hearing, pwede bang magkaroon muna ng sanitizing dito sa House?" Zarate said in a press conference earlier in the day.

"This is a public place. In the past days, in and out ang mga tao dito. Hindi natin alam kung merong carrier. We are all exposed. I understand there are meetings now, we are recommending ASAP na magkaroon ng sanitation dito sa House to disinfect yung mga public places," he added.

Last Tuesday, some House employees were ordered not to come to work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amid reports that they were in close proximity with a possible carrier.

According to Montales, these House employees went to a wake and another person has a brother who allegedly tested positive for COVID-19 and is now confined in a hospital.

Montales said that while they are verifying the report, "and as a precautionary measure even though there was no direct contact with the said person, the employees were directed not to report for work in the meantime."—AOL, GMA News