Rising Covid cases prompt DOJ lockdown
DUE to rising Covid-19 cases, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced another lockdown of its main office along Padre Faura in Manila starting today (Friday) until March 23.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra noted the DOJ recently recorded 17 active Covid-19 cases among its employees.
The number is significantly high, considering that for the entire 2020, the DOJ recorded only a total of 18 cases while the 17 new cases were recorded within the first quarter of 2021.
“I’m constrained to order another suspension of on-site work at the DOJ. We have seven new cases today, bringing the total active cases to 17,” Guevarra said.
“We’ll lock down again starting tomorrow [March19] till Tuesday [March 23]. Everyone will work from home, except a skeletal staff who will receive documents and attend to other frontline services,” he added.
Since the start of the pandemic, the DOJ has recorded a total of 35 cases.
On March 12, Guevarra ordered the suspension of on-site work until March 16 to give way to disinfection and sanitation activities of offices at the DOJ proper.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals also suspended operations today (Friday) and March 21 to disinfect its buildings and offices.
CA Presiding Justice Remedios Salazarfernando approved the proposal of Associate Justice Ramon Garcia, who chairs the CA’S Covid-19 Response Committee, to suspend work for three days after recording 18 active cases.
“Moreover, considering the substantial number of Covid-19 infections in the station [18 as of today, March 16, 2021], it is likewise recommended to conduct a more thorough disinfection, cleaning and sanitation of the different buildings and offices of the Court in order to prevent or minimize the spread of the virus,” said Garcia.
The Ca-manila will also implement a reduced work force equivalent to 50 percent pursuant to Supreme Court Administrative Circular 45-2020 dated August 18, 2020, and the CA’S Guidelines on Return to Work and Resumption of Normal Operations (as amended) for two weeks.