Panic and anxiety have engulfed Parliament after at least 17 legislators and tens of parliamentary staff allegedly tested positive for the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

The legislators are among 52 members of the Senate and National Assembly who received their results on Tuesday from the Ministry of Health after taking the voluntary tests last week.

The National Assembly, through its clerk Michael Sialai, submitted the lawmakers’ names last week to the Ministry of Health for testing.

Among those who were subjected to test and mandatory quarantine included members of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee and the Delegated Legislation Committee.

The two committees with a combined membership of 38 held a joint sitting on March 17 in the presence of Rabai MP Kamoti Mwamkale, who has since tested positive.

Others included those who attended the burial of Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori on March 9 and came into contact with Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi, who has since healed of coronavirus but has been charged for ignoring government’s directive for the mandatory 14 days of self-quarantine.

In the Senate, members who had travelled outside the country in the past 30 days were also tested and given back their results.