Sotto tests negative, orders Senate closure amid surge

Senate President Vicente Sotto III tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday.

Sotto announced a 'total closure' of the Senate building from January 10 to 16 due to a high number of infections among employees, with 46 confirmed cases and 175 under quarantine.

The Senate will undergo thorough disinfection during this period to prevent or slow down virus transmission.

House of Representatives extended its lockdown until January 16 in response to the Omicron variant threat.