Most parliamentary representatives have arrived in Nay Pyi Taw to attend the 16th regular meetings of the second Parliament scheduled to commence on May 18, and they will have to undergo Covid-19 tests. 

The collection of their samples will start on May 13. 

“Tests will be carried out. If we test negative for the virus, we will be allowed to enter the parliament,” said Lower House MP Tin Htwe for Waw Constituency. 

Dr Aye Aye Mar, deputy director of Nay Pyi Taw Public Health Department, said that swabs of nearly 300 people including family members of MPs, support groups, healthcare team for MPs, staff in the parliament and transport groups. 

Swabs of MPs will be collected on May 14 and 15 and rooms have been prepared. 

“Our preparations started two days ago. There are eight rooms. We have experts to take swabs,” said Dr Aye Aye Mar. 

Those samples will be sent to the National Health Laboratory in Yangon and the Department of Medical Research, she added. 

The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services reported on May 8 that the military MPs had been diagnosed at Nay Pyi Taw Defence Services Hospital and they had tested negative for Covid-19.