Coronavirus MPs still attending Parliament - Majority Leader laments

The leadership of Parliament has expressed concerns over lawmakers and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 but still attend the House.

Presenting the business statement on the floor Friday, June 12, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu cautioned persons who have tested positive after the mandatory testing and have been contacted to stop visiting the house.

The Suame MP observed that the affected persons including some journalists have defied the communication from the Covid-19 team as they continue to engage in the house.

He explained: “the arrangement was that anybody who unfortunately tested positive would not be openly identified but that the testing team could have the arrangement to contact them behind the curtains and have the situation managed.”

“Unfortunately, some people have relented, after contact is made with them they ignore the appeal from the chief, and they visit parliament and they endanger the lives of all of us. The issue is to figure if you submitted yourself, you tested negative as some of us have on two occasions I’ve tested negative.”

Mr Mensah-Bonsu insisted “that doesn’t mean that I’m out of the woods. If anybody tests positive and comes close to me, chances that I may contract the disease, and it goes for everybody. Mr speaker, so we want to appeal to honourable members, to the staff and to journalists who have been contacted behind the curtains and who are to submit themselves to the testing team, you are endangering the lives of others. If you are contacted, please don’t come.”

He disclosed that one person who has been spoken to by the COVID-19 team has gotten close to some MPs.

“He was engaging them, even though he has been spoken to. So please let’s be on the watch out for one another,” he pleaded.

The MP was among legislators who denied initial media reports that some members had tested positive for the virus.