Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Friday that Members of Parliament (MPs) will be requested to get themselves tested for COVID-19 at least 72 hours before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament that gets under way on September 14.
The Monsoon Session that was delayed because of the pandemic will now start in the second week of September and conclude on October 1 .
Apart from MPs, anyone who enters the Parliament complex, including officials from Ministries, personal staff of Ministers, journalists covering the session and employees of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha secretariats, will also have to get themselves tested for the virus before the start of the session.
These decisions were taken after Mr. Birla chaired a meeting of officials from both Houses of Parliament, Health Ministry, Defence Research Development Organisation and other agencies to finalise the arrangements for the upcoming session.
“Seating arrangement in both Houses [Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha] will be based on guidelines of the Health Ministry on COVID-19. Comprehensive arrangements have been made for holding the session,” Mr. Birla said after the meeting.
All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Randip Guleria, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, Balram Bhargav, and Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan were among the officials who attended the meeting.
Mr. Birla had also held a meeting with the secretary generals of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Thursday to review the preparations for the session . “The priority is to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament. Guidelines pertaining to social distancing will be adhered to during the session,” the Speaker said.
“Necessary protocols are being prepared for members and their staff. Guidelines are also being formulated for Parliament officials. All guidelines pertaining to social distancing will be adhered to during session,” Mr Birla had said in one of his tweets on Thursday.
