BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Commission on Elections is putting up isolation polling places (IPP) in Negros Occidental to cater to voters experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, disclosed Provincial Comelec supervisor Atty. Roberto Salazar Jr.
Salazar said there will be a temperature check for voters, who are required to wear face masks, before entering their respective polling places.
Face shield is no longer required, he added.
If the body temperature of a voter is above 37.5 degrees centigrade, they will be recommended to take a rest. Should their body temperature not drop after five minutes, they will be brought to an isolation place, he added.
They can still cast their votes, as they will only be required to issue an authorization for somebody to get and return their ballots to their clustered precinct after filling it up, Salazar said.
If you are COVID-19 positive, you will remain in isolation, according to our laws, he said, stressing also the IPP only applies to voters experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
The Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Education and the Department of National Defense have signed a resolution to enforce the new normal plan.
In polling places nationwide, DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said there will be a COVID-19 symptom checking process on all voters with those having signs of the ailment being put in the isolation polling place.
Under the scheme, Malaya said the DOH will deploy its personnel where appropriate medicines are made available if the need arises.
He noted that the DILG, through the local government units (LGUs), will put up health stations in the polling centers manned by their health officers.
Malaya said that the DepEd will ensure that there are available isolation polling places in the schools and polling centers while the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel will provide security in the polling areas.*
