Chuan claims House 'safe' despite string of infections

Chuan claims House 'safe' despite string of infections

Parliament president and House speaker Chuan Leekpai
Parliament president and House speaker Chuan Leekpai

House speaker Chuan Leekpai on Wednesday assured that parliament is safe from Covid-19 despite a string of infections reported among MPs.

He said House meetings will proceed as scheduled as strict disease control measures have been put in place.

Mr Chuan said yesterday that the MPs who recently tested positive for Covid-19 have recovered. He admitted there were a number of newer cases, but the numbers weren't high.

"About 100 parliament personnel, MPs and other officials have tested positive [for Covid-19] over the past year," he said.

"We must learn to co-exist with the virus and perform our duties as usual."

Parliament meetings were suspended for about two weeks after a number of MPs contracted the virus, in compliance with measures laid out by the Department of Disease Control, the House speaker added.

"The situation in parliament is normal, even though there were a number of cases. In general, parliament is safe,'' Mr Chuan said, before rejecting claims that some Bhumjaithai MPs who tested positive for Covid-19 caught the virus in parliament.

"Strict health measures are in place, and ministers' assistants and aides must undergo regular antigen testing," he said.

"Most MPs have also taken Covid-19 tests before coming to work."

His adviser Sukij Atthopakorn had questioned the MPs, who said they caught the disease from friends, not from parliament.

When asked if he was concerned about the possibility of staff spreading the disease to MPs during meetings, he said infected staff won't be allowed to enter the building.

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