Twelve Senate employees have tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as senators returned to work Monday (May 4) for the resumption of sessions.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the 12 Senate employees tested positive in the rapid tests conducted for all those who entered the building premises.

Two of those who tested positive are staff members of senators, one is a waiter, one is a page and the rest are from the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).

Sotto said the 12 employees have been brought to the hospital for a swab test and will undergo quarantine.

The Senate has been manned by a skeleton workforce since the enhanced community quarantine was enforced in March.

Senators led by Sotto are set to pass a resolution on Monday allowing sessions and committee meetings to be conducted via teleconference in light of the COVID-19 crisis.