Paglilinaw ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) nitong Biyernes, Seteymbre 17, ang mga isolation polling places (IPPs) ay inihahanda lang para sa mga botanteng may sintomas ng COVID-19 pagdating sa polling center at hindi para sa mga kumpirmadong positibong indibidwal.
“To be clear, such IPPs are intended to serve persons who present symptoms upon their arrival at voting center on Election Day. While these persons may indeed turnout to be COVID positive, they will not be turned away automatically just because they are suspected to be potential cases,”sabi ni Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez.
“Instead, they will be directed to IPPs where they can vote away from the general public, with all the necessary precautions appropriate to their health condition,”dagdag ng opisyal.
“The IPPs are not intended to be polling places for persons who are confirmed to be COVID positive and are, on Election Day, supposed to be in quarantine,”pagkaklaro ni Jimez.
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“The idea of requiring such persons to leave their isolation facilities was never really on the table,” dagdag niya.
Samantala, hinikayat ni Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeireang Comelec nitong Biyernes na maglatag ng paraan para makaboto pa rin ang mga COVID-19 positive sa Halalan 2022.
Suhestyon ni Vergeire ang virtual votings.
Siniguro naman ni Jimenez na kasalukuyang pinag-uusapan ng ahensya ang nasabing rekomendasyon.
“The Comelec welcomes USec Vergeire’s statement regarding the possibility of voting by COVID positive voters. We wish to reassure USec Vergeire that the Comelec is fully cognizant of the risks – both to the patient and the public – associated with making a COVID positive person go out to vote,”dagdag ni Jimenez.
Analou de Vera
