Sotto: Senate on ‘total closure’ from January 10 to 16 amid rise of COVID infections among employees

The Senate will be placed on lockdown for a week after 46 employees of the chamber tested positive for COVID-19, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Friday.

Citing a report from the Senate Medical Team, Sotto said 46 employees turned out to be positive for the disease while 175 others were placed under quarantine due to exposure and manifestation of COVID-19 symptoms. They are also waiting for the results of their COVID-19 tests.

"Medical has sent a memo recommending seven days of total closure of the Senate from January 10 (Monday) to  January 16 (Sunday). They will conduct thorough disinfection and this will lessen contact among employees to prevent or slow down virus transmission," Sotto told reporters.

"So nobody can enter the Senate premises except those that will do the disinfection on January 8 and 15. Therefore, I will heed the call of the medical team! Will order it now," he added.

Sotto mentioned that five staff of the Medical Bureau are under quarantine, which has depleted their workforce and that they find it hard to attend to the needs of the employees.

Earlier, the House of Representatives announced that it would extend the lockdown of the chamber, also from January 10 to 16. House operations will resume on January 17. — RSJ, GMA News