THE Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday said isolation facilities are now being readied in polling precincts for voters who will exhibit COVID-19 symptoms upon arriving in voting centers on Election Day.
Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo said this is among the preparations being done by the department in coordination with health authorities and the Commission on Elections for the upcoming May 9 local and national elections.
“Ang ating mga principals at school heads ang tumukoy dito kung saan ilalagay itong mga IPPs or isolation polling places (Our principals and school heads are the ones who specified the location of these IPPs or isolation polling places),” Escobedo said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday.
Escobedo said these IPPs will be manned by personnel from the Department of Health and local government units.
“Sa pamamagitan nito mabibigyan na kaagad ng assistance ang sinumang makikitaan ng sintomas (Through this, assistance can be immediately rendered to anyone who exhibit symptoms),” he said.
Elections Commissioner George Garcia has said COVID-19 patients and those with COVID-like symptoms can still vote in IPPs on May 9.
“They can as long as they would be allowed to leave the place where they are isolating, for example, in an isolation facility,” Garcia said, adding that those with symptoms should wear a face mask and even a face shield on Election Day.
