There are now 29 active coronavirus cases at the House of Representatives as of Tuesday, March 16, House Secretary General Mark Llandro “Dong” Mendoza confirmed to Rappler in a text message.

Despite the number, Mendoza said the plenary hall session at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City will continue. The House has not implemented a lockdown since the pandemic started, unlike other government institutions that have stopped operations for quarantine and disinfection drives.

“It’s manageable,” Mendoza said.

The count excludes lawmakers Mike Defensor and Jocelyn Limkaichong, who recently tested positive for the virus.

Is it safe at the House?

Mendoza emphasized the House was conducting mandatory antigen testing for all who enter its premises, and it was were limiting the deployment of personnel.

Mendoza said most of the infected were members of the House’s housekeeping team, with a few infected from the congressional staff.

The House, he said, is already operating at 30% capacity, and starting on Wednesday, March 17, it will end sessions at 6 pm. The House earlier moved all committee hearings online, to limit contact.

The rise in cases comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, where some stricter quarantine measures are being reimposed in virus epicenter Metro Manila and other parts of the country a year into the pandemic – Rappler.com