30 MPs test positive for coronavirus as Parliament session begins: Sources

New Delhi : Around 30 MPs and more than 50 employees of Parliament have tested positive for coronavirus, according to sources.

All parliamentarians and staff of the secretariats of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had undergone mandatory coronavirus tests before the start of the monsoon session.

One of the infected MPs, Meenakshi Lekhi tweeted, "After the routine Parliament test for COVID & genome test it's confirmed that I have tested positive for the virus. I am currently in good health & spirits. I request everyone who has been recently in contact with me to get tested. Together We will fight & defeat Corona.”

The BJP's Sukanta Majumdar was the first to tweet his positive status yesterday. "Requesting all those who have come in close contact with me in the last few days to monitor their health and get tested in case of any symptoms," his tweet read.

Around 200 of the 785 MPs are above the age of 65 years.

Earlier, at least seven Union ministers and around 25 MPs and MLAs had contracted the disease. Among them was Union home minister Amit Shah, who underwent a thorough medical check-up before the parliament session started.

An MP and several MLAS have died from the highly infectious disease.

The parliament session is being held amid huge safety measures that include staggered seating of the MPs in chambers of both Houses to maintain physical distancing.

Ahead of the session, all members were requested to get themselves tested for COVID-19.