10 MPs directed to self-quarantine
At least 10 MPs have been ordered to go into quarantine as Parliament battles the spread of the deadly coronavirus which has infected 24 persons.
The Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, who revealed this during a press briefing Monday, explained steps parliament had taken since the outbreak became a global pandemic.
He explained that the “mandatory self-quarantine” was because the said MPs had returned from trips abroad.
Five parliamentary staff who also returned from trips have also been directed to do same, JoyNews’ Joseph Opoku Gakpo said in a report monitored by theghanareport.com.
The measures, he said, are “not punitive.They are protective….this is for the protection of all the people here and the unsuspecting members of the public.
Two MPs had already been asked to self-quarantine last week but at Monday’s briefing, the Speaker said this figure had risen to 10.
Two MPs, parliamentary staff asked to self-quarantine over COVID-19 scare
Already, parliament plans to move to the more spacious Accra International Conference Center for sittings. This is to help the MPs observe social distance as advised by health experts in charge of managing the coronavirus.
The MPs are to “sit two seats away from each other,” Prof. Mike Oquaye said.
The Speaker also revealed, parliament had been disinfected, an exercise that began at dusk and ended dawn.
The Job 600, which houses MP offices, parliament police station and even uncompleted buildings on the premises have all been disinfected, he said.
At the press briefing, the Speaker completely ruled out shutting down Parliament as calls for more drastic measures grow.
“Even in times of war, parliament is supposed to be sitting to make legislation and guide the government” Prof. Mike Oquaye said.