Members of Parliament will be tested for COVID-19 today 20th May 2020, Speaker of the House Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye disclosed.
According to him, as representatives of the people, it has become imperative the House sets a good example amidst the growing count of infections.
The Speaker disclosed this in his opening remarks on Tuesday 19th May 2020 when Parliament resumed sittings.
He urged the Clerk and Parliament’s Medical officers to liaise with the appropriate institution to conduct the testing for MPs and staff of the Parliamentary Service Board.
He noted that as MPs become participants in public education on the pandemic, it is important they are seen doing their part in halting the transmission of the coronavirus.
He said, “The COVID-19 pandemic is still with us and as the rate of infections continues to grow steadily while there is no scientifically approved cure or vaccine, we should continue to comply with the laid down protocols to abate the spread.”
“These include washing hands with soap under running water, cleaning the hands with fresh disposable paper and using the approved sanitizers, wearing of approved masks in public, and observing social distancing, which is requisite for keeping us safe.”
“In addition to observing the established protocols, I have directed, on the authority of the Parliamentary Service Board, the clerk and Parliament’s medical officers to liaise with the appropriate institutions to immediately conduct testing for all MPs and staff of the Parliamentary service board for COVID 19,” he added.
“And I request your cooperation in this enterprise.”
The Speaker expressed Parliament’s admiration to all frontline staff of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) for their efforts and their continued commitment to the fight against the COVID-19 disease.
He urged members to give off their best and be punctual to all official engagements of the House as they continue working for the meeting.
Meanwhile, Ghana has recorded 183 more cases of COVID-19, taking the country’s case count to 5,918, according to the latest figures released by the GHS.
Two more people have been confirmed dead from the virus taking the death toll to 31. However, there have been no new recoveries as the number still stands at 1,754.
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By Uthman A. Marani/Frontpageghana.com/ghana
