The Senate has also been hit by Influenza A(H1N1) virus, with one of its employees having fully recovered after getting caught with the dreaded virus a few weeks ago.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday said one of the more than 1,000 employees of the Senate was a confirmed A(H1N1) case. But he added that it was business as usual at the legislative chamber and that there would be no work stoppage or suspension of offices.
"Employees will continue reporting for work. There will be no disruption of work at the Senate. We will not close down the Senate, that’s for sure," he said.
Enrile said public hearings such as the called investigation on the mess over the poll automation contract bagged by the winning bidder, Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. (TIM), would proceed as scheduled on Monday.
Appropriate measures will be immediately put in place to prevent the spread of the virus such as using thermal scanners, he said.
Enrile had already directed Senate’s resident physician Dr. Mariano Blancia to put in place the necessary measures even though the virus-stricken employee had recovered from the illness.
"So we will go through a procedure such as taking of temperature and everyone will be asked to wash their hands and to use alcohol if necessary. I advise that everyone in the Senate will drink a lot of calamansi juice, just an advice not a requirement," he said, adding that such measure will also be applied even to his colleagues.
Enrile did not disclose the identify of the victim but it was gathered that the employee works with the Senate Economic Planning Office (SEPO), located at the fifth floor of the Senate building, in between the assigned offices of Senators Joker Arroyo and Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and across the office of the blue ribbon committee.
Except for the offices of the Senate President, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., which are found at the building’s sixth floor, all of the senators’ offices are at the fifth floor.
Besides the assurance that the victim was already well on way to full recovery, Enrile said there was no cause for worry among the rest of their personnel and the public since it was acquired outside the Senate building. "It was just a mild case of influenza. There is no reason to be alarmed. There is no need to worry," he added. Angie Rosales
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