Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju tests positive for COVID-19

New Delhi: Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju has tested positive for COVID-19.

The minister tweeted and said that he had tested positive for the deadly virus but he feels 'physically fit and fine'. He also said that he is taking guidance from doctors. He requested all those who have come in contact with him in the past few days to be observant and stay in quarantine.

He has posted on Twitter: 

According to reports, the minister was in Uttarakhand on April 16 (Friday) to inaugurate a Water Sports and Adventure Institute in Tehri.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat, who has recovered recently from COVID-19, was also with Rijiju at the inauguration ceremony.

The 49 years old Sports Minister and the former Union Minister of State for Home is known as one of Northeast's most dynamic, young leaders and people consider him to be the "voice of North East India."

Get well soon wishes poured in for Rijiju.

Textile Minister Smriti Irani, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were among the political leaders who wished Rijiju a speedy recovery through their Twitter messages.

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal has also conveyed his get well soon message to the minister.

On Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had tested COVID positive. Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, former Minister of Food Processing and Shiromani Akali Dal leader, Harsimrat Kaur Badal had tested positive too.

Congress leaders Digvijay Singh, Randeep Singh Surjewala are the other politicians who had tested positive in the last week.

Earlier, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb and Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Deb Barman too had tested positive for COVID.

Several prominent persons have expressed their concern regarding the rapid surge in COVID cases across India. Many have called for a stop to the political rallies and the Kumbh Mela that is being seen as a super spreader.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop all political rallies and consult the states on how best to tackle the COVID situation.

Amid the surge in COVID cases in West Bengal and the worsening situation across the country, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has cancelled his political rallies in West Bengal.