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HomeHealthAmit Shah to Manish Sisodia — 10 of India's politicians who caught...

Amit Shah to Manish Sisodia — 10 of India’s politicians who caught the Covid virus

The highly infectious Covid-19 has hit the White House at the top, but in India too, several politicians have contracted the virus, and some of succumbed to it as well.

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New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic shook the White House Friday with President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump testing positive after a top aide contracted the virus.

Trump has joined the ranks of several other world leaders including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro who have been infected by the novel coronavirus.

In India, too, the list of politicians who have contracted the virus runs long. From Home Minister Amit Shah to former president Pranab Mukherjee, here’s a list of leaders who tested positive for Covid, including those who succumbed to it.

Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah tested Covid positive on 2 August and was admitted to Medanta hospital in Gurugram.

The 55-year-old tweeted saying, “My health is fine, but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors.”

Shah was discharged on 14 August, but three days later, the senior BJP leader who is also suffering from diabetes, was rushed to AIIMS in Delhi after he complained of “uneasiness” and “breathing difficulties”. He was discharged on 31 August.

He was admitted to the hospital for the third time on 12 September for “post-Covid care” and was discharged five days later.

Pranab Mukherjee

Former president Pranab Mukherjee, who died 31 August, was admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi earlier during the month for a surgery to remove a clot in his brain. He had tested positive for Covid-19 prior to the surgery.

The 84-year-old passed away due to a septic shock.

Venkaiah Naidu

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu had tested positive for Covid-19 on 29 September. “The Vice President of India who underwent a routine COVID-19 test today morning has been tested positive. He is however, asymptomatic and in good health,” the Secretariat tweeted.

A day later, Naidu responded to a message from Vice President of Maldives, Faisal Naseem, who had wished him a speedy recovery. “I am doing well and there is no cause for concern,” Naidu tweeted.

Suresh Angadi

Minister of State for Railways and Karnataka BJP MP Suresh Angadi died on 23 September, days after he tested positive for Covid.

The 65-year-old was admitted to AIIMS Trauma Centre in Delhi on 11 September. “I have tested #Covid19 positive today. I am doing fine. Taking the advice of doctors,” Angadi had said in a tweet.

He is the only Union Minister to have succumb to the virus so far.

Satyendar Jain

Delhi Health Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Satyendar Jain tested positive on 17 June after developing a high fever.

Over the next few days, his condition deteriorated and he had to be shifted to the intensive care unit of Max Hospital where he underwent plasma therapy, following which his condition improved.

The 55-year-old was discharged after testing negative on 26 June.

Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had tested positive for the novel coronavirus on 16 September. In a tweet, Gadkari said, “Yesterday, I was feeling weak and consulted my Doctor. During the course of my check-up, I have been tested COVID 19 positive.”

The minister tested positive two days after attending Parliament’s Monsoon Session and was seated in the front row for a brief period.

The government decided to curtail the Monsoon Session after 17 Lok Sabha members and eight Rajya Sabha members tested positive for Covid. Of the Rajya Sabha’s 1500-odd employees, 83 had also tested positive till 23 September, the last day of the Parliament session.

H Vasanthakumar

Congress MP H. Vasanthakumar, 70, had contracted the virus early August following which he was admitted to the Apollo Hospital in Chennai. He was put on ventilator support on 17 August as he contracted severe pneumonia.

Vasanthakumar passed away on 28 August after developing Covid-related complications.

In March, the member of the upper house had stressed on the seriousness of the pandemic only to have his mic cut off. “Speaker sir, we have to announce a national disaster due to coronavirus affecting the whole nation,” he had said.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tested Covid positive on 25 July.

Chouhan, who was in the hospital for 11 days, was discharged after his reports came negative.

The Madhya Pradesh administration had in the initial months of the pandemic drawn staunch criticism as the building of its health department became one of its biggest hotspots. On 23 July, Congress leader P.C. Sharma had blamed the BJP for conducting meetings and holding several rallies in the state.

Ahmed Patel

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel tested positive for Covid-19 Thursday. “I have tested positive for Covid-19. I request all those who came in close contact with me recently, to self-isolate,” he said on Twitter.

Patel is currently under self isolation at his residence in Delhi. Earlier, Congress leaders Abhishek Singhvi and Tarun Gogoi had also tested positive.

Manish Sisodia

Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia had tested positive on 14 September. Sisodia, who was under home-isolation, was admitted to Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Hospital (LNJP) on 23 September after his blood platelet count declined.

He was shifted to Max hospital a day later after he also tested positive for dengue. Over her, he was administered plasma therapy.

He was discharged this Tuesday after testing negative.


Also read: Why so many politicians have got Covid, and what they should do to prevent infection


 

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