Limiting number of MPs aimed at curbing spread of COVID-19 in Parliament - Health D-G

PUTRAJAYA: The decision to limit only 80 MPs per sitting should be seen a preventive measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Parliament, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said although all MPs and staff involved in the Dewan Rakyat sitting were screened for COVID-19, there was still a risk of infection as some of them came from areas placed under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and could have been exposed to the virus.

“The MPs also bring their own assistants or staff and, together with the Parliament staff… that’s a lot of people.

“The SOP (standard operating procedure) is in place, but we can enhance it to ensure that Parliament becomes a COVID-19 free zone as well as avoid any disruption to the Dewan Rakyat sitting,” he said at a press conference on the development of COVID-19 here today.

He said this when asked about the Dewan Rakyat decision to limit only 80 MPs to attend per sitting, which will only be held from 10 am to 2 pm from Nov 9 to Dec 15, in view of the COVID-19 situation.

On Tuesday, it was reported that two individuals were found to be COVID-19 positive during tests conducted in Parliament on Oct 28 and 30.

Dr Noor Hisham again reminded residents in COVID-19 red zones not to cross districts or states, especially to return to their hometowns, so as to curb the spread of the virus.

He urged everyone affected, especially those in the CMCO areas, not leave their areas for fear that this might lead to new clusters.

-- BERNAMA