NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, SEPT 18
Amid fresh cases of coronavirus among MPs, reporters, and parliamentary staff entering the Parliament complex will have to undergo mandatory antigen tests on a daily basis, according to a new protocol put in place.
Members of both Houses are undergoing RT-PCR tests on regular intervals on a voluntary basis, said a senior Parliament official.
A member of Parliament can undergo the RT-PCR test as many times he or she likes.
Journalists covering the Monsoon session from press galleries of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha also have the option to undergo the RT-PCR test which is valid for 72 hours.
Since the report of the much reliable RT-PCR takes time, the antigen test has been made mandatory on a daily basis.
Government officials accompanying their respective ministers during bill discussions also have to show a negative report of RT-PCR test taken within the last 72 hours of their visit to the complex.
Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Prahlad Patel have tested positive for COVID-19. Both had attended the ongoing session which began on September 14.
Several MPs had tested positive for COVID-19 around the time the session began and they were advised not to attend proceedings.
