File photo of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. (Photo: PTI)
Nitin Gadkari is the last Union minister to have tested positive for the infection. Interior Minister Amit Shah, who had contracted the virus previously, recovered and was recently discharged from AIIMS Delhi.
- News18.com New Delhi
- Last update: September 16, 2020 11:22 PM IST
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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday that he tested positive for the coronavirus infection and isolated himself. He also appealed to those who have been in contact with him to get tested.
“Yesterday I felt weak and I consulted my doctor. During the course of my checkup, I was tested positive for COVID-19. I am currently doing well with everyone’s blessings and good wishes. I have isolated myself, “said the Minister of the Union of Road and Highway Transport in a tweet, urging those who have contacted him to undergo tests.
Yesterday I felt weak and I consulted my doctor. During the course of my checkup, I tested positive for COVID 19. I am currently doing well with everyone’s blessings and good wishes. I have isolated myself.
– Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) September 16, 2020
Gadkari is the latest Union minister to test positive for the infection. Union Interior Minister Amit Shah also contracted the virus, recently recovered and was discharged from AIIMS Delhi.
The news about Gadkari’s infection came on the day that Tirupati’s Lok Sabha MP, Balli Durga Prasad, died of Covid-19. The YSRCP leader, who was 64 years old, was being treated for coronavairus at a private hospital in Chennai.
All MPs and staff from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats had undergone mandatory Covid-19 testing before the start of the monsoon session on Monday. Mediators covering the proceedings were also tested and at least one of them tested positive, the sources said.
Gadkari also attended the first day of the session and made a brief appearance in Parliament.
According to the details available with the authorities of the Parliament, around 30 deputies and more than 50 employees of the secretariats had tested positive for the infection. The monsoon session of Parliament takes place in two shifts: the Rajya Sabha in the morning and the Lok Sabha in the second half of the day.
Lok Sabha members were tested at the House of Parliament on September 13-14, during a mandatory test for attendees at this year’s Monsoon Session, which will end on October 1.
(With PTI inputs)
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