3 politicians self-isolate after dinner with coronavirus-infected singer Kanika Kapoor
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Friday announced that she and her son, BJP MP Dushyant Singh, have decided to self-quarantine fearing an infection of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Raje said that they had dinner with Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor, who has tested positive for the highly-contagious disease. Shockingly, since the dinner, Singh had also visited the Parliament.
Taking to Twitter on Friday, Raje said, "While in Lucknow, I attended a dinner with my son Dushyant & his in-laws. Kanika (Kapoor), who has unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19 was also a guest." She added, "As a matter of abundant caution, my son & I have immediately self-quarantined and we're taking all necessary precautions."
While in Lucknow, I attended a dinner with my son Dushyant his in-laws. Kanika, who has unfortunately tested positive for #Covid19 was also a guest.
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) March 20, 2020
As a matter of abundant caution, my son I have immediately self-quarantined and we’re taking all necessary precautions.
Before going into self-quarantine, Dushyant Singh had reportedly attended Parliament on Thursday, sitting with Surendra Nagar Nishikant and Manoj Tewari in the Central Hall. TMC MP Derek O'Brien also said he came in contact with Singh. He tweeted, "I was sitting next to Dushyant the other day for 2.5 hours. There are two more MPs who are in self-isolation. The session should be deferred."
According to The Times of India, O'Brien has since gone into self-quarantine. Other reports said that Deepender S Hooda, who had lunch with Singh in the Parliament, has also self-quarantined. After the reports, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inspected the Parliament building on Friday.
Kanika Kapoor landed in Mumbai from London on March 9 and went to Lucknow two days later. She reportedly hid her travel history from officials and went on to throw a party at a five-star hotel, where some bureaucrats and politicians were guests. Her father, Rajiv Kapoor, told AajTak that she came in contact with roughly 400 people at three different parties in Lucknow.
Refuting the allegations, Kapoor told AajTak, "I was part of the scanning process at the airport. I also called the CMO to check me and filled all forms at the airport." She has been isolated to Lucknow's King George Medical University (KGMU).
Earlier on Friday, Kapoor wrote on Instagram, "For the past 4 days I have had signs of flu, I got myself tested and it came positive for COVID-19." She added, "My family and I are in complete quarantine now and following medical advice on how to move forward. Contact mapping of people I have been in touch with is underway as well."
As of 5 pm on Friday, India's Health Ministry had confirmed a total of 223 positive cases of COVID-19, including 22 who have been cured and discharged. Across India, five coronavirus-related deaths have been reported. Globally, COVID-19 has killed roughly 10,000 people and sickened almost 2.5 lakh. The disease originated in China's Wuhan city. It is caused by a novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2.
A 76-year-old man in Karanataka's Kalaburagi was the first coronavirus-related death in India. Subsequently, a 68-year-old woman in Delhi, a 64-year-old man in Maharashtra's Mumbai, and a 72-year-old man in Punjab's Nawanshahr district died. Separately, a 69-year-old Italian tourist in Jaipur has also died.
