MoS Muraleedharan opts for self-quarantine due to COVID-19
This follows his recent visit to Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Tiruvananthapuram where he came in contact with a doctor who tested positive for coronavirus on March 15.
By : The Federal
Update: 2020-03-17 08:08 GMT
In the first instance of a top politician getting COVID-19 jitters, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan has gone into self-quarantine.
This follows his recent visit to Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Tiruvananthapuram where he came in contact with a doctor who tested positive for coronavirus on March 15. He decided to go on self-quarantine at his Delhi residence as a measure of precaution.
BJP MPs said that he has not been attending Parliament and is staying at home. “Since going to the Parliament involves interaction with a large number of people, Muraleedharan wanted to avoid such a situation until he gets a confirmation that he is not infected,” they said.
Session To Go On
Amid fears of Parliament being a breeding ground for coronavirus, some ministers have demanded an early end to the Budget Session which is scheduled to end on April 3.
However, PM Modi stressed today that Parliament should continue to function now to help people of the country fight coronavirus. Addressing BJP MPs today, he said the need of the hour is to protect people of the country from spread of Covid-19.
Earlier, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien had called for an early end to the ongoing session of Parliament in view of the corona crisis. Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had also expressed the opinion that spread of Covid-19 can be curbed by curtailing the session.
Daily Questions
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan is getting queries every day from members of both houses on the fight against the virus. Suggestions for better containment of the virus and issues related to its impact on the poultry industry were raised on Tuesday.
Precautionary measures
Strict measures have been undertaken at the Parliament to curb the spread of coronavirus. Permission for visitors has been restricted to witness parliamentary proceedings for the time being. Deployment of medical staff on the premises, temperature check are some of the other precautionary measures being carried out.