Another House employee tests positive for COVID-19 days before SONA

Another employee of the House of Representatives tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, just a few days before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address in Batasang Pambansa.

House Secretary General Atty. Jose Luis Montales said the 19th recorded infection in the lower chamber was from the Procurement and Supply Management Service.

The said employee last reported for work on July 20 and decided to go home two hours into the shift after experiencing nasal congestion.

He is under home quarantine and contact tracing efforts are ongoing, according to Montales.

On the other hand, the COVID-19 case from the House Committee on Justice already recovered from the virus.

On Thursday, the third coronavirus fatality in the Lower House was recorded—the first two died in March.

All lawmakers and their staff who will be attending the SONA on Monday will have to undergo swab and rapid tests for COVID-19.

Duterte will also take the swab test, according to Malacañang. -NB, GMA News