New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was admitted to AIIMS in Delhi for “post Covid care” on 17 August, was tested twice for the novel coronavirus in the last one week and was found to be negative, ThePrint has learnt.
Sources told ThePrint that Shah is just quarantining himself at the hospital and is not on oxygen support. “He is doing fine. His health is being monitored by doctors. He was tested twice and was negative,” a source said.
“In fact, he has been looking at files, signing papers from the hospital itself,” he added.
Shah had tested positive for Covid on 2 August and was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram for 12 days. Three days after he was discharged, on 17 August, he complained of “uneasiness” and “breathing difficulties”, following which he was rushed to AIIMS. He has since been recuperating at AIIMS.
While AIIMS in a statement on 18 August had said that Shah, who complained of fatigue and body ache, was admitted for post-Covid care, no update on the minister’s health was issued in the last one week either from the hospital or the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Also read: August begins on a solemn note for India’s politicians — 6 test positive for Covid, one dies
Family insisted for quarantine at hospital
According to sources, it was Shah’s family members who suggested that he quarantines at the hospital to minimise all risk.
“Although he (Shah) is doing fine, his family members suggested that he be kept in the hospital under the watch of doctors, for some more time, till his isolation period is over. Since he was discharged earlier and felt uneasy after he returned home, the family does not want to take any risk,” the source said.
The senior BJP leader also suffers from diabetes — a comorbidity.
The same source said that apart from handling work from the hospital, Shah also takes a walk in the AIIMS premises once in the day.
“He is taking a walk daily and handling work. He has also not complained of any uneasiness off late. The purpose to admit him to the hospital was to ensure that he is not unattended at any time. He will be discharged once his isolation cycle is complete,” he said.
Also read: Why so many politicians have got Covid, and what they should do to prevent infection
Is AIIMS a luxury hotel, resort, oldage home, orphange or asylum? When common “mitron” or dieing for not getting beds, doctors and emergency facility an abodoned neata his staying comfortably with his paraphernalia at tax-payers cost!