Courts should only be locked down if COVID-19 case confirmed by swab test — Court Administrator Marquez

Courts or halls of justice will not be locked down solely on the basis of rapid antibody tests for COVID-19, the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) said Tuesday.

In a June 30 circular, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said courts exposed to a COVID-19 case will be closed for 14 days and immediately disinfected once the rapid test result is confirmed positive by a confirmatory swab test.

If the swab test yields a negative result, the court concerned should stay open and observe health and safety protocols, Marquez said.

While waiting for the results of the confirmatory test, the concerned courts should conduct initial contact tracing. Symptomatic persons should go on self-quarantine for 14 days or until they become asymptomatic, whichever is longer, Marquez said.

The subject who tested positive in the rapid test, on the other hand, should be on self-quarantine or referred for admission to a hospital in case they have severe or critical symptoms and relevant travel/ contact history, or mild symptoms and relevant travel/contact history if they are considered vulnerable, he said.

The court administrator released the guidelines to "ensure that the courts will not be unnecessarily and indiscriminately closed to the public on the basis of inconclusive test results."

The guidelines apply to first and second-level courts.

Before this issuance, a number of courts have locked down their premises after employees tested positive for COVID-19 through rapid testing or had contact with COVID-19 patients.

Citing steps from the Department of Health, Marquez said symptomatic close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases should submit to isolation in a health facility and undergo a laboratory confirmatory test, while those who are asymptomatic should go on a 14-day home quarantine. They may also take a confirmatory test.

Marquez added that all visitors and court users should register and provide their contact information upon entry in the hall of justice in case contact tracing becomes necessary.

He said court users confirmed to have COVID-19 should immediately inform the court they have visited.

If the local government unit will disinfect the hall of justice on a weekday, the courts there should be closed as long as judges and personnel work from home and conduct video conference hearings when applicable, he said.

Marquez said the courts should clear with the OCA any action they will take due to confirmed COVID-19 cases, including lockdowns and work from home arrangements. — RSJ, GMA News