Bhubaneswar: All the Lawmakers, their Personal Security Officers (PSO), Drivers, Officers and Staff of Odisha Legislative Assembly (OLA) will have to undergo a Mandatory COVID-19 Test before the commencement of the Budget Session from 18 February.
Budget Session of OLA begins from 18 February and will continue till 9 April, 2021.
Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro has directed to observe precautionary measures during Budget Session in view of prevailing situation of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Accordingly, ACS Health & Family Welfare, Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra has directed Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Director Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Director Capital Hospital and Managing Director Odisha State Medical Corporation (OSMC) to make arrangements for the same.
As decided by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the RT-PCR tests will be conducted twice – once before the beginning of the session and one more time after the session ends.
Swab samples of all MLAs, their PSOs and Drivers will be collected by a team of doctors from 8.30 AM to 1.30 PM and 3 PM to 5 PM on 15 and 16 February and from 8.30 AM to 1.30 PM on 17 February for RT-PCR tests.
There will be another round of RT-PCR tests for all the Members of OLA as per the scheduled time after the session is over.
If any Member feels uncomfortable during the session of the Assembly, he/she can go for Antigen Test by the doctors on short notice.
There will also be RT-PCR tests for all the Officers and Staff of the OLA Secretariat along with the Officers and Staff of office of the Chief Minister, Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Government Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip at the same place and time on 15 and 16 February and 17 February.
The Law Makers will be provided with face shields, masks, hand gloves and sanitiser by the Department of Health & Family Welfare daily before commencement of each sitting during the session.
Director of Regional Medical research Centre has been urged to ensure RT-PCR tests on time and submit reports to the OLA Secretary in due time.