COVID-19: "I don’t know if any MP has tested positive" – Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
The Majority Leader of Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has said he is not aware that any member of the legislature has tested positive for the coronavirus after all MPs underwent mandatory testing.
Media reports on Tuesday, 26 May 2020 suggested that two MPs and 13 staff of Parliament tested positive.
But speaking at a press conference later in the day, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said: “What we agreed to do was that anybody who tested positive, the information will not be transmitted to all of us. It is between the person and the people who did the test. Some confidentiality is required”.
“The Director of Parliament's Medical Services is the only person who will know if any member of Parliament tests positive for COVID-19 and the information then will be transmitted to the individual Member of Parliament or staff.
“So, as I stand here, I don’t know if anybody has tested positive, so, that’s it and I don’t know anybody who will tell you that he/she knows that somebody has tested positive.”
“So, I have told you the official position, so, if anyone tells you a member or two or three have tested positive for the disease, ask the person for the source and please that is the official position,” he said.
Meanwhile, Parliament, as an institution, has also dismissed the media reports.
A statement signed by Kate Addo, Director, Public Affairs of Parliament on Tuesday, 26 May 2020 said the attention of Parliament has been drawn to reports that two members and thirteen staff of parliament have tested positive for COVID 19 after the mandatory testing exercise undertaken by parliament last week.
“Parliament would like to state categorically that the results of the tests are not yet known and, so, the report is not true”.
The statement urged Starr FM, which broke the story, “to withdraw the said report and update its audience with the relevant information to the effect that the results from the tests are unknown to Parliament”.
“The confidentiality protocol is that those who test positive will be called directly by the testing team. Officially, parliament is unaware of any such call and, therefore, there hasn't been any official figures given by the National COVID-19 response team”.
“Meanwhile, Parliament will like to assure the public that it remains committed to ensuring the safety and avoidance of possible spread of the disease in parliament”, the statement noted.
“Citizens are encouraged to call or reach Parliament online with their enquiries and only attend upon the House if it becomes absolutely necessary.”
Ghana has, so far, recorded 6,964 COVD-19 cases.
This was announced by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye at a press briefing on Tuesday, 26 May 2020.
Meanwhile, 2,097 of the infected persons have recovered.
Recovery means the patients have tested negative after two tests.
The number of deaths remains 32.
Source: ClassFMonline.com
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