SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, on Wednesday, announced that 14 members of the Parliament Office had tested positive for COVID-19 and measures were being taken to ensure proper protocols were followed.
The 14 positive results were among the 126 samples that were taken from the staff last Thursday.
Speaking with Guyana Chronicle, some of the staff members of the Parliament Office said they would prefer to work from home or work remotely.
The Speaker, who himself tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, and is currently presiding over the house virtually from a remote location, said that testing of the Parliament staff was deemed necessary, after several members of the National Assembly, who had tested positive, were present for sittings when Parliament re-opened on September 2.
“The Clerk has taken the necessary action, since the test, to ensure our staff are provided with supplements and necessary protocols. Of the 14 who are positive, he is currently making arrangements to ensure we can look after the good health of our parliamentary staff. Please bear with us as the COVID-19 is beginning to take its toll on the members of the staff of Parliament,” Nadir said.
Earlier this month, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony had described as “reckless and irresponsible” the behaviour of Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) Christopher Jones and Sherod Duncan. They had attended the first sitting of the 12th Parliament, after testing positive for the virus, but not having entirely completed their isolation periods.