New Delhi: India's Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday tested positive for COVID-19 during a routine test, his office confirmed via a tweet. Naidu is in home quarantine and is "asymptomatic and in good health", the tweet said.
"The Vice President of India who underwent a routine COVID-19 test on Tuesday morning has been tested positive. He is, however, asymptomatic and in good health. He has been advised home quarantine. His wife Smt. Usha Naidu has been tested negative and is in self-isolation," the tweet from Naidu's office read.
The 71-year-old, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, recently attended the monsoon session of parliament, where more than 25 representatives tested positive for the dreaded virus.
The session was cut short and both the houses of parliament were adjourned indefinitely on September 23, instead of continuing till the designated date of October 1.
In India, the number of COVID-19 infected persons has crossed the 61-lakh mark, while the number of fatalities is nearing the 1 lakh mark.
It may be mentioned here that a sero-survey -- held between August 17 and September 22 -- has showed that 7.1 per cent of the country's adult population has been exposed to the virus at some point of time or the other. This is a big jump from the 0.73 per cent logged in the first survey conducted in May.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Centre as the country gets ready for the next phase of the lifting of coronavirus-related restrictions. The Unlock 5 guidelines -- for the month of October -- are expected to be announced very soon. The ongoing lockdown 4 phase is due to end on Wednesday, September 30.