Prevention key as House prepares for new session

Prevention key as House prepares for new session

The House of Representatives is almost ready for the new parliamentary session on May 22, with strict Covid-19 prevention measures including voluntary testing for MPs to apply, secretary-general Sorasak Pienvej said on Wednesday.

The chamber is now 99% ready, with some loose ends involving the sound system to be tied up in a final test scheduled to take place on May 5, Mr Sorasak said.

On that day, staff will also conduct a trial meeting to ensure everything is working properly, he said.

The trial run will also apply social distancing measures, and help determine if there will be enough room for parliamentarians, he said.

As for the other Covid-19 prevention protocols, Mr Sorasak said parliament was working with the Disease Control Department and the Pollution Control Department in designing them.

MPs are now being asked if they will voluntarily undergo a Covid-19 test, which will be provided for free before the new session begins, he said.

"Parliament now has in place stringent Covid-19 prevention measures and will implement them from the moment MPs get out of their cars, go through the Covid-19 screening station and take the lift to the chamber," he said.

Everyone is required to wear a face mask and only 200 to 300 people will be allowed to use parliament's cafeteria at a time, he said.

For those lawmakers interested in receiving a quadrivalent influenza vaccine, designed to protect against four different influenza strains, a state-run hospital will offer to vaccinated them for only 400 baht, Mr Sorasak said.

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