Before the budget session, 400 Parliament staff tested positive for COVID-19

More than 400 members of the Parliament's staff tested positive for COVID-19 before of the Budget Session.

According to official sources, 402 of the 1,409 staff members of Parliament tested positive for the virus between January 4 and 8, following which their samples were sent for genome sequencing to confirm the variation.

"Close to 402 staffs were tested positive for COVID-19 from January 4-8 and all samples have been sent to genome sequencing for Omicron variant confirmation," an official was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Additionally, according to an internal communication from Parliament's staff, employees are instructed to take safeguards in accordance with official norms.

"There is a consolidated list of 200 Lok Sabha and 69 from Rajya Sabha and 133 allied staff who have tested positive, but we all need to take proper precautions," an internal message read.

Outside the Parliament grounds, those who were tested for COVID were not included in the aforementioned message. It should be mentioned that numerous staff from both Houses of Parliament were placed in isolation after coming into touch with infected coworkers while at work.

Several members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have also been placed in seclusion.

The DDMA recently issued an order directing all government offices to operate at less than 50% personnel capacity, with the remainder working from home. Taking the new COVID-19 variation, Omicron, seriously, the Central government also freed its employees from biometric attendance (daily punching).