17 MPs test Coronavirus positive as monsoon session of parliament begins

17 MPs have tested positive for coronavirus including Meenakshi Lekhi, Anant Kumar Hegde and Parvesh Sahib Singh. 

Others who have been detected COVID-19 positive include Sukhbir Singh, Hanuman Beniwal, Sukanata Majumdar, Goddeti Madhavi, Pratap Rao Jadav, Janardan Singh, Bidyut Baran, Pradan Baruah, N Reddeppa, Selvam G, Pratap Rao Patil, Ram Shankar Katheria, Satya Pal Singh and Rodmal Nagar.

The mandatory tests were carried out before the monsoon session this morning. The Lok Sabha members were tested at the Parliament House on September 13 and September 14.

The parliament session is being held amid huge safety measures that include staggered seating of the MPs in chambers of both Houses to maintain physical distancing. A mobile app has been introduced to register their attendance and seats in the house have been separated with poly-carbon sheets.   

One of the infected MPs, the BJP's Sukanta Majumdar, tweeted his positive status yesterday.

"Requesting all those who have come in close contact with me in the last few days to monitor their health and get tested in case of any symptoms," his tweet read.