26 LAWMAKERS IN NEPAL TEST +VE FOR COVID AHEAD OF PM’S VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

KATHMANDU: As many as 26 members of parliament in Nepal have tested positive for Covid-19 before the country’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli faces a crucial vote of confidence on Monday, the parliament secretariat has disclosed. Covid-19 tests conducted from Wednesday to Friday ahead of Monday’s special session confirmed the results.

“The MPS underwent tests for the coronavirus, out of which 18 tested positive. Another eight MPS who had undergone tests on their own earlier and were added to that list, taking the number of infected MPS in the lower house to 26,” Rojnath Pandey, spokesperson at the parliament secretariat, told ANI over phone.

As per the official, the final number of infected MPS can be known only after the results of 54 other tested lawmakers arrive. All staffers at the parliament complex in Kathmandu as well as security officials are being tested for the deadly disease, running into over 1,200 individuals.