By Christopher Arko/Benjamin Mensah, GNA
Accra, March 23, GNA – Speaker of Parliament Aaron Michael
Quaye on Monday announced that some ten Members of Parliament (MPs) and five
members of staff who traveled abroad and returned recently have been asked to
stay away from the House to avoid possible transmission of COVID-19.
“As we are speaking now, ten MPs who travelled abroad in
these circumstances have been asked to stay in self-isolation for certain
number of days. Five members of staff who also went abroad and came back have
been asked to the do the same.
“This is for the protection of all the people here and
unsuspecting members of the public,” the Speaker said on Monday at Parliament
Houser in Accra.
In an interaction with a restricted number of members of the
Parliamentary Press Corps in his office, the Speaker said, self-quarantine is a
way of preventing the spread of the disease among MPs and the general public.
He said members have been asked to sit two seats from one
another and ensure that enough space exists in conformity with World Health
Organization regulations.
“We all have to obey the directive in the interest of the
publice,” the Speaker stressed.
He announced that the premises of Parliament has been
fumigated under the close supervision of the Marshall, the Doctor and relevant
organizations.
The Speaker said the air conditioning system in the House has
been made to run low to generate warmth which he said has been recommended by
those “who know” in dealing with the diseases.
He advised that all rooms should be made as relatively as warm
as possible and not have cold surroundings.
The Speaker stressed the need for the house to be emergency
ready at all times and even when the House is on vacation since members could
be called back for recess at any time for parliamentary work.
COVID-19 which broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan in the
Hubei Province in December 2019 has since become a global pandemic and affected
Ghana with 24 confirmed cases.
The Government of Ghana has announced measures including not
holding a gathering of not more than 25 people, and suspended group religious
activities, closed down schools, borders and entry points and suspended
international flight operations.
In addition to social distancing, there is an educational
campaign in the mass media, social media and other forms mass communication in
educating people on the disease.
People are also being encouraged to wash hands under running
water and sanitize them as well. People are also being encouraged not to not
put fingers in the body’s entry organs such as the eye, nose, mouth and ear.
Government is also carrying out fumigation of some markets
and where people shop in the open air.
Parliament, since last week, is taking the temperatures of
members, staff and others persons who enter the premises.
GNA