VP Venkaiah Naidu undergoes COVID-19 test ahead of Parliament monsoon session

As per mandatory protocol for each member to undergo a COVID-19 test (RT-PCR) before attending upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu underwent a test on Friday.

session is due to start from September 14 and MPs have been asked to get ir tests done within 72 hours before commencement at any hospital/laboratory authorized by Government or at Parliament House Complex.

government has said three test centres are functioning in Parliament House Annexe from Friday for  convenience of members. y have also been requested to ensure that ir test report is sent in vance to Rajya Sabha Secretariat via a designated e-mail so as to avoid any inconvenience at time of ir entry into Parliament House during Session.

Similarly, RT-PCR test has been me mandatory for employees of Parliament Secretariats and or ncies deployed in Parliament House Complex who remain in close proximity of members during course of performance of ir duties. Also, arrangements have been put in place from today to conduct Rapid Antigen Test for personal staff and drivers of MPs at Reception Office, Parliament House.

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Risk mitigation,  complacency

Venkaiah Naidu has issued strict instructions to senior officials of Secretariat t to be complacent about risk of infection and to strictly here to guidelines specified, his office said in a statement. He has held meetings with Secretaries of Home, Health & Family Welfare, DRDO, ICMR to ensure safety of members and officials and follow risk mitigation protocols.

In order to ensure social distancing rms, Rajya Sabha chamber, galleries, and Lok Sabha chamber will be used to seat members — 57 of whom will be accommodated in chamber and 51 in galleries of upper house. remaining 136 will be seated in chamber of Lok Sabha. In all, re are 244 members and one seat is vacant.

Each seat has been provided with a microphone and a sound console to enable m to participate in discussion. MPs are w allowed to speak while sitting when called keeping in view of safety of Members.

Four large display screens in chamber will show members speaking and re will be a seamless live telecast of proceedings on Rajya Sabha TV. In dition, six smaller display screens and audio consoles have been installed in four galleries.

Moreover, DRDO will also provide multi-utility COVID kits to all MPs. Each kit will contain disposable three-ply masks (40), N-95 masks without a wall (5), 20 bottles of sanitizers of 50 ml each, face shields me of polypropylene (5), gloves (40), touch-free hook (to open and close doors without touching m), Sea Buck Thorn tea bags which enhance immunity and herbal sanitation wipes (a variant of tissue papers).

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