Parlt puts up Covid-19 measures

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
PARLIAMENT has put in place “Covid-19-compliant” measures for its current sitting, to ensure the safety of MPs and staff members, says Clerk to Parliament Kala Aufa.
He said since the closing down of Parliament on April 21 because of the Covid-19, new compliance and safety measures had been put in place – in accordance with the National Control Centre requirements.
“We are making the chamber Covid-19-compliant,” he said
“We have included partition glasses between the seats of MPs, and there is an air purifier located at all corners of the chamber below the media gallery, public gallery and Speaker’s gallery.
“The partition is for the safety of MPs and staff who interact with the MPs during sittings.”
Aufa said all Parliament staff had been tested and medically cleared of the virus.
“Several have been vaccinated while others are yet to be vaccinated.
“(For) those not vaccinated, it is their right to make that decision,” Aufa said.
In April, 42 employees tested positive for the Covid-19.
Covid-19 National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning in a letter that day recommended that Parliament be adjourned to allow contact tracing to take place, testing to be carried out and the precinct to get a thorough decontamination.
He wrote to Speaker Job Pomat on April 20 requiring that all parliamentary staff be tested for the Covid-19.
Between April 13 and 19, 167 swabs were taken from the staff with 42 testing positive and 125 negative.
“Of concern is the fact that a high number of positive cases are in direct employ of chamber services, who have close interaction with our leaders.
“This is a major threat to national security,” Manning said.