A House staff uses a hand-held non-contact thermometer to check the temperature of employees and visitors entering the north wing lobby of the House of Representatives on Monday. (Photo by Filane Cervantes)
MANILA – The House of Representatives has started implementing precautionary measures for all members, employees, and personnel amid the threat of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
In a health advisory issued by House Secretary-General Luis Montales, the use of thermal scanners for screening in all entrance lobbies was among the measures taken by the chamber to prevent the spread of the infection.
The chamber shall also distribute protective masks and gloves to frontliners; set up tents as holding areas for persons suspected of infection; clean, sanitize, disinfect common and work areas; and supply liquid soaps, sanitizers, alcohol and disinfectant sprays in comfort rooms.
It shall also monitor the health of employees especially those who got sick, those who traveled to countries with 2019-nCoV infection, and those who had contact with confirmed or suspected cases.
The health advisory highly recommended House members, employees and personnel to avoid or defer travel to countries with documented cases of the 2019-nCoV.
Meanwhile, those who traveled to countries with confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV and arrived in the Philippines on January 20 onwards, were advised to practice self-quarantine measures for 14 days.
Currently, the Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed two cases of nCoV in the country, a 38-year-old woman from Wuhan in Hubei province, China and her companion, a 44-year-old man who died on Saturday. (PNA)
