All who enter House of Representatives must test negative for COVID
By The Star Staff
Speaker of the House of Representatives Rafael “Tatito” announced Sunday that, without exception, any citizen who enters the Legislative Assembly must have a negative result from a COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) performed within the past 72 hours.
“No one can go to work if they don’t have a negative test [performed within] 72 hours. There is an Administrative Order that all staff must be tested weekly,” the House speaker said at a press conference. “The tests are also going to be requested from the people who are going in to seek services or to depose in the Legislative Assembly.”
The guideline also applies to journalists and contractors who intend to enter the building.
He added that two representatives and two employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
“There were two office employees, the [Proyecto Dignidad] representative Lissie Burgos and there is a legislator who did not take the test here yesterday, but had already tested positive, and that is the representative Domingo Rivera Madera [of the Popular Democratic Party],” Hernández Montañez said. “Regarding the employees, one works for Rep. [Ángel] Matos and the other for [Rep. Jesús] Santa.”
The House speaker said a negative test is required for entry, not evidence of vaccination.