BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Protocols against the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are in place for the May 9 national and local elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) assured voters in Western Visayas.
Part of the strategy to prevent or minimize a possible post-election COVID surge is the lengthening of the voting hours from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., said Atty. Hazel Palencia, Comelec Region 6 election attorney.
Health protocols will also be strictly enforced in voting precincts – wearing of facemask, physical distancing and hand disinfection.
Voters will be subjected to temperature checks. The feverish will be placed in a holding area to prevent them from mingling with other voters.
The normal human body temperature range is typically stated as between 36.5 °C to 37 °C.
Palencia urged voters to vote early. Citing previous elections, she said the bulk of voters usually appear in voter precincts around midday.
“We hope there won’t be another COVID surge. We must practice the minimum health protocols,” she stressed./PN
