The Secretariat of the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) of Parliament issued new guidelines after 65 Rajya Sabha officials, 200 of the Lower House (Lok Sabha) and 133 service employees were diagnosed with the disease in random tests conducted on January 6-7, Daily News and Analysis newspaper reported.

According to these measures, 50 percent of the officials or the staff holding the position of undersecretary or executive officer will work from home.

Schedules were also staggered, and all official meetings were ordered to be held virtually to avoid overcrowding.

Pregnant women and parliamentary personnel with disabilities were exempted from going to the offices.

Most employees who tested positive to the coronavirus were asymptomatic.

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