New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah tested positive for Covid-19 Sunday and was admitted to the Medanta hospital in Gurugram for treatment.
In a tweet, 55-year-old Shah said he got himself tested after some initial symptoms surfaced, and was found positive for the novel coronavirus. He said though he was feeling well, he was being admitted to the hospital on the advice of his doctors.
कोरोना के शुरूआती लक्षण दिखने पर मैंने टेस्ट करवाया और रिपोर्ट पॉजिटिव आई है। मेरी तबीयत ठीक है परन्तु डॉक्टर्स की सलाह पर अस्पताल में भर्ती हो रहा हूँ। मेरा अनुरोध है कि आप में से जो भी लोग गत कुछ दिनों में मेरे संपर्क में आयें हैं, कृपया स्वयं को आइसोलेट कर अपनी जाँच करवाएं।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 2, 2020
Shah also requested the people who came in touch with him in the last few days to isolate themselves and also undergo a test.
According to a source, Shah got tested Sunday morning and his report came by late afternoon.
“After he started showing mild symptoms, his doctors suggested that he gets tested. He got tested and his report came positive, following which he was isolated. All his staff have been asked to isolate themselves,” the source said.
Also read: India will win both the battles, Covid-19 and the one against China: Amit Shah
Who all came in touch with him?
On Saturday, Shah attended a webinar to mark the 100th death anniversary of freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, titled ‘Lokmanya Tilak: Swaraj to Atmanirbhar Bharat’, which was organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
Before that, on Wednesday, Shah was present at the cabinet meeting that approved the new National Education Policy (NEP). There, Shah had come in direct contact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar and HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
According to a second source, Shah had had several engagements in and outside the ministry. He had gone to meet Javadekar at his residence and had also met BJP president J.P. Nadda.
Moreover, the civil servants with whom Shah worked closely have been alerted.
“Every morning, Amit Shah takes a meeting with his staff and then all the officials at his office in North Block. Another meeting then takes place late afternoon. He also has engagements outside North Block,” the source said.
“Although he had been taking all precautions, his staff and the bureaucrats he was working with closely have been asked to isolate themselves and monitor their health,” the source said.
Ministers of State for Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy and Nityanand Rai have also been asked to monitor themselves for symptoms.
“More than a dozen bureaucrats, staff members and even ministers have been alerted. They have been asked to get themselves tested,” the second source added.
Sources also said Shah had also met senior BJP leader L.K. Advani on 22 July, as well as party general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Bhupendra Yadav.
(With inputs from Shanker Arnimesh)
Also read: Why so many politicians have got Covid, and what they should do to prevent infection