4 more COVID-19 cases reported at House

Four new cases of COVID-19 were reported at the House of Representatives, bringing its total number to 27.

House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales announced the development on Monday in a statement shared with reporters.

According to him, a member of the House security staff was found positive for COVID-19 after undergoing a swab test on Sunday as part of the protocols for President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The said security staff, who has been on home isolation, was advised of the result of his swab test early Monday morning, he added.

Meanwhile, the driver of Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel also tested positive for COVID-19, Montales said, after the lawmaker himself contracted the disease

Pimentel confirmed on Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19, which disallowed him to attend the President's SONA.

Two members of the House housekeeping staff also tested positive for COVID-19, Montales announced.

Contact tracing is ongoing to identify those who came in contact with the newly-reported cases of COVID-19 in the House.

As of July 28, a total of 83,673 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Philippines, with 1,947 deaths and 26,617 recoveries. -MDM, GMA News