House COVID-19 cases rise to 49

The number of COVID-19 cases reported at the House of Representatives has risen to 49 after two more employees tested positive for the disease.

House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales made the announcement in a statement shared with reporters on Thursday.

The first of the two new cases is a congressional staff member who last reported for work on June 16.

Meanwhile, the second new case is an employee from the Plenary Support Service who last reported for work on August 5, he said.

Both employees are currently asymptomatic and in home quarantine, he added.

Montales has reminded members of the House community to take extra precautions in order to prevent the further transmission of the disease.

He said employees should only report to work physically only if there is an absolute necessity.

Those who are experiencing or have experienced any COVID-19 symptom within the last 14 days should no longer report from work, he added.

Montales said appropriate penalties will be imposed on violators of the health and safety protocols of the House.

As of August 20, a total of 178,022 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Philippines, with 114,114 recoveries and 2,883 deaths. — BM, GMA News