SC halts work for 3 days amid infections

The Supreme Court on Sunday said it will suspend work for three days from Jan. 3 to 5, 2022 after a number of its personnel got infected with COVID-19.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the three-day work suspension will allow the testing of its personnel as well as the disinfection of the entire court premises.

In his memo, Gesmundo said the Supreme Court’s Medical and Dental Services reported that many of its personnel tested positive for COVID, and that they were in “close physical contact” with other employees.

The High Court’s modified working arrangement will also take effect on Thursday.

Under Memorandum order No. 1-2022, all offices and divisions in the SC will continue to be operational, with half of the workforce reporting on site Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the other half on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The order likewise stated that everyone who is to enter the Court premises must present a negative antigen result.