Comorbidity makes HM vulnerable; Karnataka CM, TN Guv, UP BJP chief too test positive
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has tested positive for coronavirus and has been admitted to hospital for the treatment. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh too have tested positive for Covid-19.
Amit Shah took to Twitter to inform about his Covid positive status and requested all those who have come in contact with him in the last few days to get themselves tested for coronavirus.
Shah said that his health is fine and he is being admitted to hospital on the advice of doctors. Amit Shah was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram in the afternoon.
“On getting initial symptoms of coronavirus, I got the test done and the report came back positive. My health is fine, but I am being admitted to hospital on the advice of doctors. I request that all those who have come in contact with me in the last few days, please isolate yourself and get your enquiry done,” Home Minister Amit Shah said in a tweet.
Shah was also on the list of 200 invitees of the Ayodhya Ram temple “bhoomi pujan” that is to take place on August 5, however, sources had confirmed that Shah was not going to attend the event. Shah testing positive for Covid-19 is likely to have an impact on the Ayodhya event as several Cabinet Ministers and BJP leaders who may have come in close contact with Shah in recent meetings were also on the invitee list for the event.
As per doctors, Amit Shah has comorbidities and thus comes under the vulnerable category. His oxygen levels will be monitored from now on.
The Home Minister attended a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday at the Prime minister’s residence where the new National Education Policy was passed.
“I have tested positive for coronavirus. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on the recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with me recently to be observant and exercise self-quarantine,” Yediyurappa tweeted.
Among the high-profile cases Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is also currently down by the virus and recuperating in hospital. Prior to this, BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and Delhi Health Minister Satendra Jain were also inflicted by Covid19 and recovered.
The 55-year-old Home Minister has been admitted in a room on the 14th floor of the Medanta Hospital and is under Dr Sushil Kataria’s observation. The entry to the hospital has reportedly been barred for now.
Amit Shah’s contact-tracing is being done. Shah has come in contact with all his Cabinet colleagues in recent meetings, however, it is unclear whether all Cabinet ministers will be tested for coronavirus or not. BJP leader Babul Supriyo said that he had met Shah a day before and has been advised by doctors to isolate himself.
“I had met Amit Shah ji day before in the evening. I am advised by doctors to confine myself, away from my family members, for the next few days with a test to be done soon. Shall abide with all precautionary measures as per rules and protocol. “ said Babul Supriyo.
West Bengal BJP leaders also met Amit Shah on Friday to demand a CBI probe into the deaths of its two members who were found hanging in West Bengal’s East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas districts this week.
Lok Sabha members Soumitra Khan and Nishith Pramanik met Shah in New Delhi and urged for an investigation by the CBI into the deaths of 52-year-old Gautam Patra in Ghora Mara area of South 24 Parganas on Thursday and Purnachandra Das (44) in the Ramnagar area of the East Midnapore district on Wednesday.
The Home Minister has been leading the efforts to counter the novel coronavirus and also assisted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in bringing the Covid situation in Delhi under control when the infections were at peak in the national capital.
A number of political leaders including former Congress president Rahul Gandhi have wished Shah a speedy recovery soon after he informed of his Covid report on Twitter.
BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad, Ram Madhav, Tajasvi Surya wished the home minister a quick recovery and that he returns to serving the country with “same energy” soon.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also wished the home minister a speedy recovery.
Union Minister Gen VK Singh said, “You have defeated many adversities in life, and I am sure you will overcome this one too. I wish you a speedy recovery.”
In Tamil Nadu i, the day also saw the First Citizen of the State too getting infected with the pandemic. Governor Banwarilal Purohit was tested positive for covid-19 at a corporate hospital in Chennai. A bulletin issued by the hospital on Sunday said the Governor has been advised home isolation and would be monitored by the medical team of the hospital.
In UP, The chief of state BJP unit, Swatantra Dev Singh, tested positive for COVID-19 and quarantined himself at his home as per doctors’ advice. Singh made public this information on Sunday in a tweet in Hindi.
“I had been experiencing initial symptoms of COVID-19 and underwent a test for it. I was found positive for COVID-19,” said Singh in his tweet. The leader also requested his acquaintances who came in his contact recently to get themselves tested for the infection.
“I request every person who came in my contact to get themselves tested for infection and quarantine themselves as per the guidelines,” he added in his tweet. “On the advice of doctors, I have quarantined myself at my home. I request all the residents of UP to exercise caution and strictly adhere to the guidelines of the government,” he said in another tweet.
