Bhubaneswar, Aug 19:  All legislators, their Personal Security Officers (PSO), drivers and staff of Odisha Legislative Assembly (OLA) will have to undergo a mandatory RT-PCR test before the commencement of the Monsoon Session scheduled to begin from September 1.

It has been decided in a meeting chaired by Speaker Surya Narayan Patro on Thursday.

RT-PCR tests will be conducted from August 29 to August 31 in two sessions. The first session will be held from 8.30 AM to 1.30 PM. The second session will be from 3 PM to 7 PM.

Additional Chief Secretary of Health, PK Mohapatra has directed the Managing Director of State Medical Corporation, Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner, and director of Capital Hospital to make necessary arrangements for the collection of swab samples. 

Similarly, the Director of the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) has been urged to ensure RT-PCR kits on time and submit reports to the OLA Secretary before the Session.