Lok Sabha will be seeing some of the new measures in the upcoming monsoon session, following Speaker Om Birla’s meeting with health sector experts last week.

New measures include Doorstep Covid-19 tests for MPs, the freedom to deliver a speech in the House while seated, options to undergo real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test at their constituency before heading to Delhi, and one-way movement in the Central Hall and key corridors.

On Friday, along with the union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, AIIMS director Randeep Guleria, ICMR chief Dr Balaram Bhargava, the Lok Sabha Speaker also met DRDO and Delhi government officials for a brainstorming session where he was quick to approve some new schemes, a top representative aware of the proceedings at the meeting said on condition of anonymity.

Dr Guleria, for instance, advised that it would be better if MPs could talk while seated which gives a departure to the tradition of standing while speaking—as this would restrict any possible spread of aerosols, an idea that was approved.

Since the home addresses and locations of all MPs are available, they could be administered RT-PCR tests before the session (and in many cases before the parliamentarians left for Delhi), suggested Guleria.

The Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan shared his opinion that the Vande Bharat experiment of asking passengers to conduct RT-PCR tests from their place of boarding a flight can be replicated for MPs. Vande Bharat Mission doesn’t allow the evacuees to undergo RT-PCR tests 96 hours before take-off. Quarantine in the port of arrival can be avoided by them if they test negative. In the case of MPs who are living outside Delhi, it was decided to request them to undertake such tests in their constituencies 72 hours before coming to Parliament.

The much-awaited monsoon session of Parliament, delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will be held between September 14 and October 1.

According to an official, Dr Guleria also advised that one-way movement should be enforced in some essential corridors and the Central Hall of Parliament. The AIIMS chief explained, this measure would prevent MPs from coming face-to-face with their colleagues and diminish the uncertainty of infection. This approach was also accepted.

There will be major changes and severe restrictions in Indian Parliament during the monsoon session and both Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to ensure the safety of lawmakers and workers in the Parliament complex that will house the session for 18 days are focusing on every detail.

There will be no access given to Visitors and media persons to areas including the Central Hall during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. Media, however, will be allowed to cover the session from the press gallery.

Birla plans a special meeting between the MPs and Guleria, Bhushan and Bhargava. “In the proposed meeting, these health experts will explain details of the COVID virus and it will not just help MPs to take extra care but also educate people in their constituencies,” said second functionary familiar with the meeting and also the thinking in the speaker’s office.