COVID-19: Parliament to sit twice a week after 15 MPs, 56 staff test positive

Parliament will begin sitting twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, as a measure to fend off the spread of the Coronavirus in the legislature.

Speaker Rtd. Hon. Alban SK Bagbn disclosed this on Thursday 4th February 2021 when he updated members on a mandatory test carried out in House.

According to him, the bi-weekly sitting will only involve members of staff needed in the precincts of parliament on these days would be allowed onto the premises

The Speaker disclosed that some 15 members and 56 staff of the Parliamentary Service Board have tested positive for the virus.

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The affected persons, he said, are currently following the compulsory self-isolation and taking the prescribed medication and urged them to continue the isolation until they post a negative test.

Read the full statement below:

I make this statement today to formally inform honorable members of the Covid-19 situation in parliament and to update you of the results received so far from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research on the testing of members and staff which ended yesterday.

The Institute has generously accepted to do a mop-up tomorrow Friday 5th February 2021. I want to urge members who haven’t taken the opportunity to do so to kindly do it tomorrow.

Reports from parliament’s medical center reveal that 227 members submitted themselves for the test while others conducted their own tests at private medical facilities. I want to urge those who conducted their own tests at private medical facilities to submit the results of these tests to the director of the parliamentary medical center.

Out of those who submitted themselves for the test in parliament, fifteen members of parliament tested positive for the virus. All the fifteen members have been conducted and advised to self-isolate. They have also been given prescriptions to facilitate their recovery.

Results of 193 staff received so far reveal that 56 of them tested positive for the virus. All the 56 staff have been contacted and advised to self-isolate. They have also been given prescriptions to facilitate their recovery.

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Parliament is therefore taking steps to test the households of the thirteen members of staff and the 356 staff in order to avert re-infection upon their return from self-isolation and treatment

In consultation with leadership and the clerk, I have decided to implement the following measures to curb the further spread of the virus.

1. The house will from text week sit twice a week. That is on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
2. Only members of parliament and members of staff who are needed for the business of the house on those days will be allowed in the precincts of parliament from next week. This excluded members and staff who have tested positive and those who are yet to present themselves to the test. The Marshal should take note and enforce the directives.
3. In scheduling business for the House, the Business Committee is directed to note the above decisions. With respect to the orientation and induction workshop, only first-term MPs are to report for the induction workshop on Friday 5th February. 2021. This again excludes Members and staff who have tested positive to the virus and those who are yet to submit themselves to the test. Efforts are also being made for virtual presentations by resource persons.Members are urged to take this information seriously and act accordingly. I will not hesitate to name and shame any member who flouts these directives.

   Thank you

   —

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