Senators, staff to undergo rapid COVID-19 testing before session resumes —Zubiri

All senators and their staff who will attend the caucus and plenary session at the Senate building on Monday will undergo rapid testing for COVID-19, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said

"Mamayang hapon si Senator [Panfilo] Lacson magdadala po ng maraming rapid test kits kasi gusto niya lahat kami mag-test muli bago pumasok. During the caucus at 2 p.m., magte-testing po kami muli," Zubiri said in a virtual conference with reporters.

He added the Philippine Red Cross, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, will also be on standby for PCR-based confirmatory tests should anyone turn out positive in the rapid testing.

Earlier in the day, Senate President Vicente Sotto III arrived and inspected the Senate lobby. Thermal scanners and foot baths are already in place as precautionary measures against COVID-19.

WATCH: Senate Pres. Tito Sotto inspects the Senate lobby a few hours before the session resumes at 3 p.m. on May 4. Thermal scanners and foot baths are available at the entrance as part of the precautionary measures vs. COVID-19 @gmanews

Credits: Office of SP Sotto pic.twitter.com/PStxXA4Puk

— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) May 4, 2020

The Congress is scheduled to resume session at 3 p.m. Those who already confirmed attendance were Sotto, Zubiri, Gordon, Lacson, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senators Bong Revilla, Manny Pacquiao, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Ronald "Bato"Dela Rosa, Joel Villanueva, and Nancy Binay.

Zubiri said the plenary session on Monday will be quick as it will focus on three main agenda: the amendment of the Senate rules to allow legislative proceedings via teleconference; the passage on third and final reading of the Alternative System Act in light of the health crisis; and the adoption of a resolution honoring the life of former Senator Heherson Alvarez who recently succumbed to COVID-19.—AOL, GMA News