A National Assembly member, five govt employees test positive for COVID-19

Published On: January 1, 2021 02:58 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Federal parliament building in New Baneshwar (File photo: Republica)

KATHMANDU, Jan 1: A lawmaker of the National Assembly and five government employees working at the federal parliament secretariat have tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

According to Dashrath Dhamala, assistant spokesperson for the federal parliament secretariat, 97 individuals including 41 members of the upper house underwent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on Thursday ahead of the winter session of the upper house of parliament which is beginning today.

The federal parliament secretariat collected the swab samples of members of the upper house and government employees and sent them for testing on Thursday. Their COVID-19 test results were received on Friday, according to Dhamala.

"Of the 97 persons who underwent PCR tests, six tested positive for the coronavirus," Dhamala said.

The winter session of the upper house is starting at 4PM today and it will not be affected even as a lawmaker and five government staffers tested positive for the virus, the assistant spokesperson said. "Those who tested positive for COVID-19 will not attend the session," he added.