Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence of India, tested positive for COVID-19. He put up a tweet confirming the news. Stating that he has mild symptoms and is under home quarantine, Singh urged everyone he has come in contact with to isolate themselves and get tested. 

Singh last addressed a webinar announcing 100 new Sainik schools allowing girls to join the Armed Forces more easily. The news of his COVID infection shines a light on India’s rising infection rates, with several politicians and government officials testing positive. 

Most recently, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had tested positive. However, he made a speedy recovery and came back to assure people that Delhi was not considering a lockdown at the moment. 

Ahead of the budget session, there has been a scare in the Parliament too, with over 400 staff members testing positive. The judiciary has sustained troubles as well with four judges and 5% of the Supreme Court staff testing positive. 

Notably, studies already predicted that India would see a short but distinct wave with omicron making its presence evident in the subcontinent. The Narendra Modi-led government took cognizance of this approaching situation and ruled that frontline workers, those above 60, having comorbidity issues are eligible for the precautionary booster dose. Since immunization is the best way at our disposal, to curb the spread, the government started the vaccination process for the booster dose from today, December 10. 

Also Read | In pics: India starts booster shot campaign amid omicron surge

The Union Health Ministry has confirmed that people can only get a booster shot of the same vaccine that they’ve taken for their first two doses. So, those who have taken Covaxin, cannot take something else, and create a vaccine cocktail. 

For now, wishes have started pouring in, with several individuals urging Singh to get well soon. Nongthombam Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur prayed for his speedy recovery while India’s Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari expressed hope that the Minister of Defence gets well soon. 

He prayed for a speedy recovery, for Singh, who a few days back, on January 6, addressed a public rally in Uttarakhand, questioning if Congress should be forgiven for the serious security lapse Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced during his Punjab visit.