Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said that he has tested positive for the coronavirus. He has been admitted to the Chirayu Hospital in Bhopal, NDTV reported.
Chouhan appealed to all the people who came into contact with him to get tested and said that his close contacts have been placed under quarantine.
“I had been experiencing symptoms of Covid-19,” Chouhan wrote on Twitter. “My test results came out to be positive.”
Chouhan said that he will strictly follow all safety guidelines. “I will quarantine myself as the doctors have advised,” he said. “I appeal to the people to follow all precautions. Even being slightly careless would mean giving an invitation to the infection. I also took all measures to stay safe from the infection.” He assured the public that there was no need to panic about his health.
The Madhya Pradesh chief minister added that he will try and continue to assess coronavirus management in the state through video-conferencing. Chouhan added that Home Minister Narottam Mishra and Health Minister Vishvas Sarang would chair the meeting that was scheduled to take place at his residence today.
Chouhan’s Cabinet colleagues took to Twitter to wish him good health. “I pray for Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s speedy recovery,” Mishra wrote. Jyotiraditya Scindia also wished Chouhan a speedy recovery.
Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, while wishing Chouhan a quick recovery, accused him of not taking the coronavirus crisis seriously. “I regret that when we took the virus so seriously, you called it drama, or ‘daro na’ [don’t be scared] and a weapon to save the government.”
Nath was referring to the time when the Congress government was ruling the state. Jyotiraditya Scindia’s exit from the Congress in March to join the BJP had led to the collapse of the Nath-led administration.
“We used to say from the beginning that it is a serious disease, there is a need to be careful about it, there is a need to follow protocol,” Nath added. “Perhaps if you would have been careful, followed protocols, guidelines and exercised caution, and did not take this as a joke, then you could have been safe. Never mind, I will pray to God that you recover soon and get back to work.”
Madhya Pradesh has reported 26,210 coronavirus cases and 791 deaths so far, according to data from the Union health ministry.
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