Rajnath, Bommai, Nitish, Nadda test positive for Covid

NEW DELHI: Amid a marked resurgence of Covid-19 infections across the country, several ministers and political leaders tested positive for the virus on Monday.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his Karnataka counterpart Basavaraj Bommai, Bharatiya Janata Party J P Nadda and Union minister of state for defence and tourism Ajay Bhatt announced that they had contracted the virus.

In a tweet, Singh said he has “mild symptoms” and is under home quarantine. “I have tested positive for Corona today with mild symptoms. I am under home quarantine. I request everyone who have recently come in my contact to isolate themselves and get tested,” the Union minister tweeted.

Similarly, Bihar chief minister’s office confirmed that he was infected.

“Respected chief minister Nitish Kumar was found Covid positive during the test. He is in home isolation on the advice of doctors. He has appealed to everyone to take Covid precautions,” a tweet from the CMO’S Twitter handle said.

Notably, on January 3, several attendees of Kumar’s ‘Janta Ke Durbar Mein Mukhyamantri’ programme had tested positive for the contagion. A day later, many ministers, including both deputy chief ministers Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi tested positive just ahead of a cabinet meeting.

Bommai said he has tested positive for Covid-19, with mild symptoms. “I have tested positive for Covid-19 today with mild symptoms. My health is fine, I am under home quarantine. I request everyone who have recently come in my contact to isolate themselves and get tested,” Bommai tweeted.

The chief minister had held several meetings on Monday, including one with health minister Dr K Sudhakar. He also attended the last rites of noted Kannada literary figure Chandrashekhar Patil and launch of precaution dose vaccination.

Nadda, meanwhile, urged those who came in his contact recently to get themselves tested for the virus. “I got my Covid-19 test done after witnessing initial symptoms. My report has come positive. I am feeling fine now,” he tweeted.

Bhatt tweeted: “I have tested positive for Covid with mild symptoms. Have isolated myself at home.”