The Senate has set up additional health and security measures against COVID-19 as it resumes sessions today.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said yesterday that the Senate will require all employees and staff who will come to work at the resumption of the plenary sessions to undergo rapid testing for COVID-19.
Sotto said Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has set up rapid testing for the novel coronavirus for all employees, staff, and media personnel who will be allowed to enter starting at 9 a.m.
“Lahat, walang dapat pangambahan kasi kaya nga ako nagpasyal last week din, for the information of everyone, especially ng mga kasama ko, ng mga colleagues namin, linggo-linggo, araw-araw, may pumapasok dun sa amin,” Sotto said.
“Skeletal force lang pero meron, hindi nawawalan, pati mga Sergeant-at-Arms. At ang disinfection doon ay constant,” he added.
Aside from the thermal scanner, Sotto said they have also set up disinfectant footbaths at the entrance as well as in elevators.
Senate personnel will also allow only three persons and one operator inside elevators to maintain physical distancing.
Others will be told to use the stairs especially if they are going up one floor only.
The Senate leader also said visitors are still not allowed to enter the premises and members of the media are encouraged to watch plenary sessions via livestreaming.
Sotto stood pat on his decision to convene the Senate today despite the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that senators are constitutionally mandated to follow Congress’ legislative calendar, which means they have to be physically present during the resumption of plenary sessions. (Hannah Torregoza)
