Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Legislative Assembly has been shut for a day after parents of an employee tested positive for COVID-19, informed Odisha Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro on Friday.
The lawmakers’ office has been closed to carry out sanitisation activity with smoke and liquid in entire building as part of preventive measure following detection of a COVID positive case from family of an Assembly staff.
“The decision has been taken for disinfection of Assembly after parents of one employee posted as Steno to Deputy Speaker of Assembly tested positive for COVID-19. The office will be shut entire day today. The swab sample of the employee has also been sent for test,” Patro said.
The office will be functional from Monday after weekend shutdown.
“Already committee meetings of the Assembly have been suspended after MLA from Nilagiri Constituency tested positive for COVID-19. Many employees of Assembly were on duty during a committee meeting held in Assembly recently. They have been asked to stay in home quarantine to contain spread of virus. They have also been directed to undergo swab test. We will decide further after getting their test reports,” Patro added.
Speaking on the issue, Government Chief Whip Pramila Mallick said that all kind of preventive measures have been taken to prevent spread of Coronavirus in Assembly.
“The Chief Minister has asked all BJD members to follow COVID-19 guidelines. Obeying his order, the party members are avoiding congregation and we are not holding any political programme,” she said adding that the official discussion is being taken place with participation of only three members when required.
