Maharashtra minister Munde down with COVID-19, second time in 9 months

Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde on Tuesday said he tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time and added that his health was fine. The Minister for Social Justice had earlier contracted COVID-19 in June last year. 

Taking to Twitter, Munde in Marathi wrote: “Today, for the second time, I have tested positive for corona. I request everyone who has come in contact with me in the last few days to check me. There is nothing to worry about. Everyone should wear a mask, follow social distances and take care of themselves.”

This comes days after Aditya Thackeray, state cabinet minister and son of Maharashtra chief minister Udhhav Thackeray, said he tested positive for COVID-19. On testing positive for coronavirus, the cabinet minister urged people to follow all COVID-19 protocols.

He had tweeted, “On having mild symptoms of COVID, I had myself tested and I am COVID positive. I request everyone who came in contact with me to get themselves tested. I urge everyone to realise that it is extremely important to not let your guard down. Please follow COVID protocols and stay safe.”

Maharashtra has been witnessing an upsurge in COVID-19 cases as the state registered a record 30,535 infections on Saturday. In the wake of rising coronavirus cases, the Maharashtra government has implemented several restrictions in the state, while the BMC in Mumbai has said that it will do random COVID-19 testing of people at public places without consent. 

According to the health department of Maharashtra, the state has till now registered 2,533,026 cases of coronavirus,  including 230,641 active cases and 53,589 deaths.