Bar examinees told: Go on self-quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court is urging 11,790 law graduates set to take the Bar examinations on Jan. 23 and 25 to undergo self-quarantine.

In a two-page bulletin issued yesterday, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said Bar takers who would test positive for COVID-19, both in antigen or RT-PCR test, would automatically be denied access to local testing centers.

The prohibition will apply to all COVID-positive cases whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, he said.

Leonen chairs the 2020/2021 Bar exams.

He had advised the Bar examinees to get vaccinated amid a surge in COVID-19 cases following the holidays.

“As an added layer of protection, especially against the Omicron variant, all unvaccinated Bar examinees are encouraged to get vaccinated,” he said.

Fully vaccinated Bar takers will be required to undergo only one antigen test within 48 hours before the first examination.

Those who will test positive in antigen test will be required to comply with the guidelines of the local government unit (LGU) where the testing center is located.

Unvaccinated examinees are required to present a negative nasal or saliva RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours before the examination.

Those who have recovered from COVID-19 will be required to undergo antigen or RT-PCR test prior to the examination.

For those who present a positive test result but have since recovered from COVID-19 a month before the Bar exams, they should present an affidavit stating under oath that they have been classified as “recovered” by the concerned LGU and that they have completed the required isolation period.