Coronavirus | Amit Shah tests positive, admitted to hospital

T.N. Governor also infected; U.P. Minister dies of COVID-19.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attends an event in New Delhi on August 1, 2020. Mr. Shah said on August 2, 2020 said he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted on Sunday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and requested all those who had come in contact with him in the past few days to isolate themselves and get tested.

Mr. Shah’s positive report came on a day when Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kamla Rani Varun died from coronavirus infection, and Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit , Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and U.P. State BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh also tested positive for COVID-19.

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

Mr. Shah, admitted to the private Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, said he got himself tested after seeing “early symptoms” of the disease. “Though I am feeling okay, am being admitted to hospital on medical advice,” the Home Minister said in a tweet in Hindi.

On Saturday, Mr. Shah inaugurated a webinar organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations on the 100th death anniversary Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in the capital. About 20 persons were present at the function.

Cabinet meeting

A government source also confirmed that Mr. Shah was present at a Union Cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, when the new education policy was approved.

A Cabinet Minister confirmed to The Hindu that he was getting himself tested for COVID-19 in view of Mr. Shah’s COVID-19 status . Another Minister stated that not all Cabinet members attend every meeting in view of the pandemic.

An official stated that as per protocol, all close contacts were to be tested if a Union Minister tested positive. Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, who had been meeting Mr. Shah, was tested and found COVID negative.

West Bengal and Delhi Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal respectively as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wished Mr. Shah a speedy recovery.

In Chennai, the Kauvery Hospital said T.N. Governor Purohit was asymptomatic and clinically stable. He has been advised home isolation with medical monitoring.

In Lucknow, Ms. Varun, 62, who held the technical education portfolio, died during treatment at a Lucknow hospital.