Number of COVID-19 cases reported at House now at 54

The number of COVID-19 cases reported at the House of Representatives has risen to 54 after three more employees tested positive for the disease.

Two of these new cases were reported on Wednesday morning in a statement from House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales shared with reporters.

According to Montales, the two new confirmed cases are siblings living in the same house.

The first is from the Human Resources Management Services who last reported for work on July 29, he said.

The second, on the other hand, is from the Engineering Department who reported for work on August 14 and 17 and started showing symptoms also on August 17, he added.

Contact tracing is ongoing with regards to these two cases.

Meanwhile, another new COVID-19 case was also reported on Tuesday evening — a congressional staff who last went to the House complex on June 15.

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 25, a total of 197,164 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Philippines, with 132,396 recoveries and 3,038 deaths. — RSJ, GMA News