— Minister Anthony reacts to COVID-19 positive Duncan and Jones turning up for Parliament

HEALTH Minister Dr Frank Anthony said coalition parliamentarians, Sherod Duncan and Christopher Jones, both COVID-19 positive, acted recklessly and irresponsibly when the attended Parliament on Tuesday even though they were advised against doing so.
The Health Ministry in a release reported that despite the warning, Dr Anthony to his “utter disbelief” saw both men in the House mingling with a number of persons outside the Parliament chamber.

“In so doing, both Messrs. Jones and Duncan have recklessly, irresponsibly and intentionally exposed the entire National Assembly, all parliamentary staff present, the press corps, the catering and janitorial staff, the security personnel and all other persons present at and within the precincts of the sitting, to the danger of being infected with Covid-19,” the ministry noted.

The ministry also noted that both Jones and Duncan have violated the COVID-19 guidelines currently in force and Section 34 of the Public Health Ordinance.

That section states that: “(1), If any person knows that he is suffering from an infectious disease, he shall not engage in any occupation or carry on any trade or business unless he can do so without risk of spreading the infectious disease, and (2), If any person acts in contravention of this section, he shall be guilty of an offence.”

The minister’s comments came in the wake of a statement issued by the APNU+AFC on Tuesday.
The coalition in its statement said it has seen quotes attributed to the newly elected Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir as confirming that Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony indicated to him that Jones “tested positive for COVID 19 — the dreaded disease.” The coalition also said that it believes the news reports were true.

It went on say that Jones’s positive test was done more than 15 days ago and he underwent the recommended period of self-isolation, observed all protocols established by the Ministry of Health and his private health care professional, a claim the Health Ministry said is not entirely true.
The ministry in a release explained that on August 31, the minister received a letter from Parliament Office, requesting that persons who tested positive for COVID-19 do not appear in person in Parliament, but that they instead appear remotely via video conference.

This letter was sent to each Member of Parliament, and as such, Jones also received a copy, the ministry noted.

“It was while participating physically in the proceedings that it was brought to the Dr. Anthony’s attention that Messrs Jones and Sherod Duncan, another Member of Parliament in attendance, both underwent COVID-19 tests, the results for which were made available to them on August 23 and 26, respectively.

“At no time did the minister indicate to anyone that Mr. Jones had tested positive for COVID-19, nor did he describe the disease as “dreaded” at any time,” the ministry clarified.

According to the release, since both Messrs Jones and Duncan, who also received a copy of the letter from Parliament Office, were found to be positive, they were strictly advised to self-isolate — starting from the date they received their test results — for at least 13 days, and the last of these must be symptom-free, before discharge from quarantine.

In relation to Jones, the ministry explained that his self-isolation period would come to an end on September 4, while for Duncan, his last day in self-isolation would be on September 7, assuming the last three days for both of them are symptom-free.
“It would be remiss of me in the performance of my duties as minister of health, were I not to convey this information to you,” the release quoted Minister Anthony as saying and added: “It is therefore out of respect for the lawful execution of his duties as minister of health that this information is being made public.”

The minister has also communicated likewise in a letter to Parliament Office, the release concluded.