Mallikarjun Kharge tests positive for COVID-19
Highlights
- He is fully vaccinated but was not yet eligible for his precaution dose, Kharge's office said
- Five staff members in his Delhi office had tested positive a few days back
- After testing positive, Kharge encouraged all eligible people to get vaccinated
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. The Congress leader is currently asymptomatic and is under home isolation. Commenting on the health status of Kharge, his office in a statement said, "He is asymptomatic and is under home isolation. He is fully vaccinated but was not yet eligible for his precaution dose."
Ravindra Garimella, secretary to Kharge, wrote in the statement, "Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has tested positive for COVID-19 in a routine RT-PCR test on 12th January 2022."
"Kharge is asymptomatic and is under home isolation as per guidelines. He is fully vaccinated, but was not yet eligible for his precautionary or booster dose which required a 9-month gap from the date of the second dose of vaccination," it read.
"Five staff members in his Delhi office had tested positive a few days back, including the Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, RS. They are all doing fine and are recovering well under home isolation," it read further.
The statement said, "Kharge would like to use this opportunity to encourage all eligible people to get vaccinated and especially, senior citizens to take the precautionary dose on a priority as soon as they are eligible. He would also like to urge the Government to look at expanding the population who are eligible to receive the booster dose and reducing the time gap between the 2nd dose and the precautionary dose."
"Anyone who may have been in contact with Kharge over the last two days is requested to observe their symptoms and get themselves tested as per the ICMR guidelines," it read.
Taking to Twitter as well, the Congress leader said, "I have tested positive for COVID-19 when I took a routine RT-PCR. I am asymptomatic and under home isolation, as advised."
Earlier, Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday evening tested positive for COVID-19 and is under home quarantine.
BJP National President JP Nadda, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of State for Defence Ministry Ajay Bhatt also tested positive for COVID-19 recently.
(With inputs from ANI)
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