Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony yesterday refuted claims made by APNU+AFC as it relates to COVID-19 results of opposition parliamentarians Christopher Jones and Sherod Duncan, following their appearance at the first sitting of the twelfth parliament.
Following Tuesday’s sitting of parliament, information was released which indicated that opposition Member of Parliament Christopher Jones had attended the sitting while he was expected to be in isolation after testing positive for the novel coronavirus recently.
A press release from the APNU+AFC on Tuesday evening stated that the release of that information which was made through another news agency was “highly irresponsible”. The release stated that Jones’ positive test was done more than fifteen days ago and he underwent the required period of self-isolation. “He therefore attended parliament today (Tuesday) confident that he was no threat to persons” the release declared.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall yesterday expressed his disbelief after learning that both Jones and Duncan had tested positive for the virus and were both physically present at the sitting of parliament. While calling their act selfish and reckless, Nandlall noted that both Jones and Duncan have exposed their colleagues, Government Members of Parliament, the clerk, speaker, and staff of the National Assembly, along with members of the media and all others who were present on Tuesday. “There is yet a larger picture, by this singular act, these two mavericks have clearly demonstrated that they are unconcerned, even about the health and safety of their own colleagues,” Nandlall said in a post to social media.
Dr Anthony in a response to the statement made by the APNU+AFC said that a notice was sent out by the clerk of the National Assembly informing all members of parliament that if they have the virus they should not physically attend the sitting and further offered for those persons to participate virtually.
In an interview with the state’s Department of Public Information, the minister said that from information which he would have received, both Jones and Duncan were tested and advised to isolate for 13 days and after being asymptomatic after the isolation days, they would finish their home isolation. “Both of them are still supposed to be in home isolation,” Dr Anthony noted while adding that at the time when both men received their positive results to the day of parliament, their isolation days were not up and as such have breached the rules and regulations of self-isolation.
Dr Anthony in the interview noted that it was while participating in the parliamentary proceedings that it was brought to his attention that both men had undergone tests for COVID-19 for which Jones received his results on August 23 and Duncan on August 26. The press release refuted claims that the Minister had indicated to anyone that Jones had tested positive for the virus. With that he noted that Jones’ home isolation period would end on September 4 while Duncan’s would be on September 7 with the assumption that they are symptom-free for the last three days of their isolation.
He contended that the act of presenting themselves at parliament was reckless and irresponsible and both men had violated the COVID-19 guidelines along with a section of the Public Health Ordinance which stated: “If any persons knows that he is suffering from an infectious disease, he shall not engage in any occupation or carry on any trade or business unless he can do so without risk of spreading the infectious disease. If any persons acts in contravention of this section, he shall be guilty of an offence.” Duncan who took to social media to respond reiterated the position taken in the APNU+AFC’s Tuesday press statement which stated that Ministers Hugh Todd and Oneidge Walrond were both present at parliament and their current status was not shared with members of parliament. Duncan in his response said, “The minister cannot use me to distract from he and his fraudulent government’s recklessness and mismanagement of COVID-19.” He added that he was happy to be healthy and COVID-free. Todd and Walrond were confirmed as positive much earlier.
