Developing Story: COVID-19 and Parliaments

(Written on 22 March. Last Update on 23 March)

News reached the world on December 31 last year that in China’s Wuhan port city there were cases of “unusual pneumonia”. The Coronavirus or COVID-19 was unknown then.

We all thought it was insignificant and brief.

We were all wrong.

And Parliaments have not been spared either.

As of March 21, COVID-19 has killed at least 11,000 people and infected more than 275,000 worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the virus a global pandemic.

What is Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)?

The WHO has important information on what the disease is, how it is spread, and how to prevent it. It indicates on its website:

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.

Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.  Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).

At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. WHO will continue to provide updated information as soon as clinical findings become available.

 

Situation report on parliaments around the world

The COVID-19 situation is rapidly unfolding around the world. According to WHO’s Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report –61, dated 21 March,  there are 266, 073 confirmed cases and 11, 184 deaths. The African region has 572 confirmed cases and 12 deaths. The WHO has given the pandemic a risk assessment at the global level of very high.

This is how the situation is in regard to parliaments.

Kenyan Parliament

On 13 March, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Service Commission issued Parliament of Kenya-Coronavirus Guidelines Circular.  The document titled Guidelines Consequent on the Declaration of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) as a Global Health Pandemic and the Confirmation of a Case of Coronavirus Infection in Kenya, was addressed to all Members of Parliament and Staff of Parliament and was disseminated to the public. The Guidelines ordered a raft of quick measures to address the pandemic. All foreign travel by members and staff of Parliament were suspended.  Conferences, retreats, workshops and other similar events of Parliament were to be held within the precincts of Parliament in Nairobi. Visits to Parliament by schools, colleges and other groups were suspended. Also, entry of any other visitors into Parliament were to be restricted.  Further, all committees were encouraged to defer their sittings and visits outside the precincts of Parliament.

The Guidelines ordered that official engagements that had been scheduled to be held within the precincts of Parliament in the next thirty days would be stand deferred until further notice.

Also, Members of Parliament and staff who, within the past fourteen (14) days (that was as from 1 March)  had returned into the country from a destination in which cases of corona virus infection had been reported were advised to take particular precautionary measures.

The Guidelines also issued preventive measures to be observed by Members of Parliament and Staff in line with the recommendations of the WHO and the Ministry of Health.

The National Assembly was scheduled to have its sittings on Tuesday, 10 March; Wednesday, 11 March; and Thursday, 12 March. The House was then scheduled to adjourn on Thursday, 12 March for a short recess according to its parliamentary calendar. However, the House had to adjourn two days earlier.

On Tuesday, 10 March, the Leader of Majority Party, Hon. Aden Duale moved the following Motion of Adjournment of the House:

THAT, AWARE THAT the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern;

FURTHER AWARE THAT,the Government, upon confirmation of Coronavirus cases in the country, has taken various measures aimed at containing the spread of the disease, including suspension of learning in all educational institutions and minimizing attendance to various gatherings and that all sections of our society including the National Assembly ought to play their role in stopping further spread of the disease;

NOTING THAT,public health authorities around the world are also taking unprecedented measures to contain the spread of the disease;

DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT,this pandemic, which is said to have no known cure, has spread to many countries with the potential of affecting a large percentage of the world’s population since the impact of the virus is still unfolding;

(a) THAT, notwithstanding the approved Calendar of the House (Regular Sessions) for the Fourth Session (2020), the House adjourns its Sittings from Wednesday, 18th March 2020 until Tuesday, 14th April 2020 at 2.30 pm.

(b) THAT, during the period of the adjournment, the Parliamentary Service Commission institutes appropriate measures to enable the House to sit upon reconvening taking cognisance of the public health emergency;

(c) THAT, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Orders 41 and 42 relating to reading and relaying of Messages from the Senate and from the President, during the period of the adjournment, upon receipt of any name of a person nominated for appointment to a State office from the President, or upon receipt of any Message from the Senate, the Speaker shall forthwith refer such Message to the relevant Committee for consideration, without having to recall the House; and,

(d) THAT, the Calendar of the House (Regular Sessions) for the Fourth Session (2020), be hereby altered accordingly.

Consequently, the National Assembly of Kenya resolved to adjourn until Tuesday, 14th April 2020, at 2.30 p.m.

The Senate, in their sitting, had a similar Motion by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Kipchumba Murkomen. Thus, it also resolved to adjourn its Plenary sittings to reconvene on 31 March, 2020 at 2.30p.m. and to alter its Calendar accordingly. In Senate’s Communication from the Chair, the Speaker directed that, “the sittings of the Committees also shall be suspended for a period of two weeks after which further directions will be given by the Speaker.”

The Staff of Parliament were also encouraged to work remotely from their homes as the situation is being monitored. An Ad hoc Committee has also been formed to address all the issues related to the COVID-19.

The WHO, as of March 20, reported that Kenya has 7 confirmed cases and zero deaths. As of March 22, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, announced an additional 8 confirmed cases, bringing the number of confirmed cases in Kenya at 15.

East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), based in Arusha, Tanzania,  has called off its 4th Meeting of the 3rd Session of the 4th Assembly which was scheduled to commence on March 18, 2020. The WHO, as of March 20, reported that Tanzania has 6 confirmed cases and zero deaths.

“Given the nature of the Assembly’s work which involves travel and meetings, there is ample evidence that such plenary gathering can increase the risk of transmission of the COVID-19”, EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga K. Martin said.

Meanwhile, each EALA Chapter shall remain in its own Partner State and engage with various stakeholders in-country.

Ugandan Parliament

As of Thursday, 19 March 2020, the Ugandan Parliament continued to transact its business.

A week ago, the Nile Post reported that seven Ugandan legislators had recently returned from South Korea and that Hon. Anthony Akol had been expelled from Parliament so that he could self-quarantine himself.  Legislators had called for the adjournment of parliamentary sittings.

The Ugandan Parliament has reported that US based Professor Sarfaraz Khan Niazi has donated a patent to Uganda for the manufacture of a sanitiser that instantly kills the coronavirus. Two Ugandan scientists were developing a sanitiser using the patent.

Ugandan Speaker, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, said on March 17  that Uganda’s Parliamentary Commission would hold an emergency meeting to discuss how to manage operations of the institution in current coronavirus situation.

Uganda has one confirmed case of Coronavirus and zero deaths.

Tanzanian Parliament

The Tanzanian Parliament, through its Speaker, Hon. Job Ndugai, has released a press briefing in regard to the coronavirus titled Mwongozo wa Njia zitakazotumiwa na Bunge katika Kujikinga na Maambukizi ya Ugonjwa wa Corona. The Tanzanian Parliament has made available thermo scanners and hand sanitizers within the precincts of parliament, allowed Committees’ domestic activities but discouraged to tour places with high density of people, and allowed Committee sittings  within the precincts of parliament but stakeholders should be few particularly those directly related to the purpose of the meeting.

Further, the scheduled parliamentary sitting on March 31 will continue as scheduled unless indicated otherwise.

Also, the Tanzanian Parliament has suspended foreign travels, foreign travel for medical treatment, foreign training of MPs and staff, and visitor access.

South African Parliament

The National Assembly of South Africa suspended its business until further notice on Wednesday, 18 March. The Speaker stated:

Please note, as indicated previously, that the business of the National Assembly will be suspended until further notice. I would like to encourage members to continue taking personal precautions and to stay informed during the coming weeks. People, we look to you and our people look specifically to you as the first 400 citizens of the country for leadership.

The Parliament of South Africa, in its press release dated 21 March,  stated: “As Parliament is busy processing legislation that will ensure universal access to health care for all, we must all work together, through individual and collective efforts, to turn the tide against this pandemic.” It also indicated: “Parliament has already taken active steps to stop the spread of this virus by scaling down on its work to limit person-to-person contact in order to curb possible infections and the spread of the virus.”

The WHO, as of March 20, reported that South Africa has 205 confirmed cases and reported zero deaths.

The UK Parliament

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