Noted singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, who had tested positive for coronavirus last week and was undergoing treatment at a Chennai hospital, is in a critical condition, hospital sources confirmed to news agency ANI on Friday.

A statement released the MGM Hospital, where Balasubrahmanyam says, “There has been a setback in the health of Playback Singer SP Balasubrahmanyam (in file pic) who had been admitted at MGM Healthcare for symptoms of COVID since 5th August”.

The singer has been moved to the Intensive Care Unite (ICU), the statement says. “In a late-night development on 13th Aug, Balasubrahmanyam’s condition had deteriorated and based on the advice of expert medical team attending to him, he has been moved to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) & he is on life support & his condition remains critical.”

On August 5, the 74-year-old in a video statement on Facebook said, “For the last two or three days, I was feeling little discomfort like cold and fever. I went to the hospital and got checked. The doctors said it I have mild coronavirus. They asked me to stay at home and self-quarantine, and take medication. But I got admitted to the hospital. No one needs to worry about me and please don’t bother me to call to find out how I am. Except for fever and cold, I am perfectly alright. Even fever has subsided. In two days I’ll be discharged.”

The update on his health came hours after it was reported that he was doing well in the hospital.

The singer has a record of singing 40,000 songs in different languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada among others.