The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has ordered the House to sit twice in a week from the regular sitting timetable, as part of the measures put in place to curb the wide spread of Covid-19.

The new sitting arrangement and timetable  was announced by Speaker Alban Bagbin, on the flour of the House last Thursday, after he received a letter from the Noguchi Institute, indicating the number of cases recorded in Parliament.

The two days sitting which is Tuesdays and Thursdays, will take effect and be implemented this week with a strict observation of all protocols and directives to ensure prevention of the spread of the virus.

Speaker Alban Bagbin, said a report from the Parliament Medical Center revealed that 227 members out of the 275 Members of Parliament, have availed themselves for the ongoing COVID-19 testing in the House, while others conducted their own test from a private medical facility.

According to the Speaker, out of the Two Hundred and Twenty-seven (227) members who got their tests done in Parliament, Fifteen (15) of them tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, whiles Fifty-six (56) Staff of Parliament also tested positive.

Hence, He ordered the House to sit twice in a week from Tuesday and urged all members, staff and the media who haven’t partake in the test to do so and adhere to all the protocols to avoid any further sanctions.

“I have decided to implement the following measures to curb the further spread of the virus. The House will from next week, sit twice in a week, that is on Tuesdays and Thursdays”. He ordered.

The Speaker further indicated that only Members of Parliament and staff who are needed for the business of the House on those two days, would be allowed in the premises of Parliament from Tuesday February 9, excluding members and staff who have tested positive and those who are yet to present themselves to the test.

Source: Editor/www.newslinegh.com

 

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