Parliament to sit twice a week as 15 MPs, 56 staff get COVID

A total of 227 MPs submitted themselves for COVID-19 tests in Parliament while the remainder of the 275 lawmakers did their own private tests at medical facilities outside the precincts of the lawmaking chamber, Speaker Alban Bagbin has revealed.

Out of the 227 MPs, 15 tested positive.

Those who did their private tests are yet to submit their results to the leadership of the house.

Additionally, 56 staff of Parliament have tested positive.

All the affected MPs and staff have been contacted and advised to self-isolate.

They have also been given prescription drugs to facilitate their recovery.

Parliament has made arrangements to test all the households of the 15 MPs and 56 staff to curb reinfection.

Also, to forestall further spread of the virus in the house, Mr Bagbin announced on Thursday, 4 February 2021 that Parliament will sit twice a week (Tuesday and Thursdays) from next week instead of the normal four days.

“Only MPs and staff who are needed for the business of the house on those days will be allowed in the precincts of Parliament”, he announced.

On Wednesday, the Speaker threatened to expose MPs who tested positive but were still coming to the house if they did not stay away.

Meanwhile, nine more COVID-19 patients have died in Ghana, taking the fatality toll to 433.

According to the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service, 777 new cases have been confirmed.

The active caseload is now 5,786.

So far, a total of 68,559 cases have been confirmed in Ghana since March last year.

Out of that number, 62,340 patients have recovered and been discharged.

Regional breakdown

Greater Accra Region – 40,320

Ashanti Region – 12,453

Western Region – 3,622

Eastern Region – 2,905