Monsoon Session: 25 MPs test positive for COVID-19, says report

New Delhi, Sep 14: On the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, around 25 parliamentarians have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Reportedly, 17 of the MPs are from Lok Sabha, and 10 are from the Rajya Sabha.

MPs who have tested positive for the dreadful infection are BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi, Anant Kumar Hegde and Parvesh Singh Sahib, Sukhbir Singh, Hanuman Beniwal, Sukanata Majumdar, Goddeti Madhavi, Pratap Rao Jadav, Janardan Singh, Bidyut Baran, Pradan Baruah, N Reddeppa, Selvam G, Pratap Rao Patil, Ram Shankar Katheria, Satya Pal Singh and Rodmal Nagar.

Separated by plastic shields installed in front of their benches, members of Lok Sabha attended the first day of the Monsoon session being held amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

While nearly 200 members were present in the Lok Sabha chamber, a little over 30 were seated in the visitors' gallery located above the main chamber.

In run-up to the session, while over 4,000 people including MPs and staff have been tested for COVID-19. Around 200 of the 785 MPs are above the age of 65 years and are among the population vulnerable to coronavirus.

Most parliamentary operations have been digitalized, entire premises sanitised and doors made touch-free.

The first-of-its-kind Monsoon Session will see Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sitting in two different shifts, while special seating arrangements have been made for MPs in adherence to social distancing guidelines

Barring on the first day, Rajya Sabha will convene in morning shift from 9 am till 1 pm, and Lok Sabha in evening shift from 3 pm to 7 pm. The chambers of both houses along with their respective galleries will be used for sitting of the members in each shift