Lawmakers, staff physically attending SONA to undergo swab, rapid testing for COVID-19

Lawmakers and their staff who will be physically attending President Rodrigo Duterte's fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday will be required to undergo swab testing as well as rapid testing for COVID-19.

This was revealed by House Deputy Secretary General for Administration Department Dr. Ramon Ricardo Roque during the SONA media briefing of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

According to him, senators, House members, guests and technical staff physically present during the opening of the Second Regular Session in the morning and the SONA in the afternoon will have to undergo mandatory reverse transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction testing for COVID-19 on July 26, a day before the event itself, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The same individuals will have to undergo rapid testing on July 27, the day of the SONA itself, between 6 a.m. to 12 noon, he said. Both testings will be done at the De Venecia Hall of the House's South Wing Annex for House members and their staff.

Meanwhile, senators and their staff, as well as the contingent from Malacañang will have a separate collection venue, he added.

Roque said persons who will test positive in either of the COVID-19 tests will no longer be allowed to attend the SONA physically.

"Kapag nag-positive yung House member o yung senator, wala na. Pero kapag nag-positive yung technical staff, may alternate sila. Yung alternates ng technical staff, is-swab din sila," he said.

The House has limited the number of attendees from the chamber to the SONA to observe social distancing measures implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19.

House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales said the number of House members and officials physically attending is limited to 25 only.

Those who will be physically attending the opening of the Second Regular Session in the morning will also be the ones who will attend the SONA in the afternoon, he said.

After the session in the morning, the plenary hall will be closed for disinfection, and will only be opened by 2 p.m. to allow SONA attendees to come inside, he added.

Aside from mandatory COVID-19 tests and the observance of physical distancing measures, the House will also be implementing other health protocols during SONA day.

These include wearing of face masks, face shields, and other personal protective equipment at all times, putting floor markings at entrances, elevators, and places with foot traffic, providing alcohol and sanitizers, checking of body temperature, disinfection of surfaces, and submission of health declaration forms.

"Persons with temperature reading of 37.5 or higher shall be denied entry and redirected to quarantine tents attended by our medical personnel," Roque said.

"Security, medical personnel, housekeeping personnel will be required to wear face masks and face shields or complete PPEs at all times," he added. —KBK, GMA News