NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, AUG 28
MPs will be requested to get themselves tested for COVID-19 at least 72 hours before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Friday.
During Monsoon Session, expert advice from MoHFW, ICMR, AIIMS & DRDO will be followed for ensuring protection from COVID-19. Hon. MPs will be requested to undergo testing for COVID-19. Personal staff of MPs, Secretariat staff, security & media personnel too will be tested. pic.twitter.com/kdFtr6XfFb
— Lok Sabha Speaker (@loksabhaspeaker) August 28, 2020
The Monsoon Session is likely to start on September 14 and conclude on October 1.
Besides MPs, all those who are expected to enter the Parliament premises, including officials from ministries, representatives from the media, and staff of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats, will get tested for the coronavirus before the start of the session, Birla said.
A Test Laboratory will be set up in Parliament Estate. A health check up facility will be made available & ambulance services & emergency teams will be on standby. Sanitization & social distancing will be ensured in Chambers. All arrangements will be made to prevent infection. pic.twitter.com/apzAmXE5AY
— Lok Sabha Speaker (@loksabhaspeaker) August 28, 2020
The Lok Sabha speaker on Friday held a long meeting with officials from the health ministry, ICMR, AIIMS, DRDO, and Delhi government to finalise the arrangements for the session in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Birla said arrangements have also been made for zero-touch security checks during the session.
Deeply pained to hear about sad & untimely demise of Lok Sabha MP from Kanyakumari, Shri H. Vasanthakumar.
He diligently worked for the welfare of the common man. I pray to the Almighty for his salvation.
My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved members of his family. pic.twitter.com/QDJlcsgC5u
— Lok Sabha Speaker (@loksabhaspeaker) August 28, 2020
If required random tests for COVID-19 can be conducted during the session, he said.
The Lok Sabha speaker is the custodian of the Parliament complex and the Lok Sabha Secretariat is the nodal authority for the building. Therefore, the responsibility for making arrangements in the Parliament building lies with the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
Sources said the Monsoon Session is likely to be held in two shifts – morning and evening.
Due to the pandemic, this will be in a way the first-of-its-kind session with various modifications.
