New Delhi:
Seventeen members of Parliament have tested positive for coronavirus in mandatory tests conducted before the monsoon session started this morning. Among the infected MPs, the BJP has a maximum number: 12. The YRS Congress has two MPs, the Shiv Sena, the DMK and the RLP one each.
The Lok Sabha members were examined in Parliament on September 13 and 14, the sources said.
One of the infected MPs, Sukanta Majumdar of the BJP, tweeted his positive status yesterday.
The rest of the results have come since then. Around 200 of the 785 parliamentarians are over 65, the population vulnerable to the coronavirus.
Previously, at least seven Union ministers and around 25 parliamentarians and members of the judiciary had contracted the disease. Among them was the Union Interior Minister Amit Shah, who underwent a thorough medical examination before the parliament session began.
One MP and several MLAS have died from the highly infectious disease.
The parliament session takes place amid massive security measures that include staggered seats for MPs in the chambers of both Houses to maintain physical distancing. A mobile application has been introduced to record their attendance and the seats in the house have been separated with polycarbonate sheets.
Before the session, all members were asked to get tested for COVID-19.
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