FIFTY-SIX Covid-19 cases have been detected in Parliament to date, director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.

His statement came after lawmakers had urged Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun to extend the sitting beyond 5.30pm, and even the number of days.

Azhar had rejected the requests, citing a directive from Noor Hisham.

According to the director-general, the 56 Covid-19 positive cases involved two MPs, six escort officers and 48 officers from various government agencies.

“This brings the positive rate to 2.7%,” Dr Noor Hisham said.

“From these 56 positive cases, 39 have not received the full course of their vaccination.”

Dr Noor Hisham said based on the investigations and risk assessments conducted yesterday, the positive cases have no epidemiological correlation with each other.

He reminded that those who were confirmed positive will not be allowed to attend any parliamentary sessions.

“They will be isolated, treated and given a Surveillance and Observation Order (HSO) including those who have had close contact with them before the sitting,” he said, adding four close contacts have been confirmed positive for Covid-19.

To date, Dr Noor Hisham said four close contacts have been confirmed positive for Covid-19.

“The four close contacts have not been present since the first day of parliament and are being monitored by the health authorities,” he said.

Noor Hisham said considering the current situation, the Ministry of Health (MOH) recommends that the number of physical attendance in Parliament be reduced and the duration of the sitting shortened.

This matter was also proposed by Noor Hisham on Monday.

He said MOH will continue to monitor the development of the situation in Parliament.

A health team from the Kuala Lumpur Health Department and the National Public Health Laboratory (MKAK) are currently stationed at Parliament to coordinate screening for fever and symptoms on all who enter the building.

He said as of today, a total of 104 individuals have undergone a self-screening test “RTK-Ag Self Test Kit” using saliva samples and found that all the results were negative. – July 29, 2021.