'I'm Not In Self-Isolation' Says Maharashtra Governor After Staff Tests Positive For COVID-19

Maharashtra Governor, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, has clarified that reports appearing in a section of media regarding his health are "baseless" and he is not in self-isolation.

BCCL

"I am perfectly alright, and not in self-isolation. I underwent relevant tests, the result of which came in the negative. There are no symptoms of COVID - 19 either," he wrote on Twitter.

"However, considering the COVID-19 situation elsewhere, I am discharging all my official duties strictly adhering to protocols like social distancing, sanitizing, wearing of masks, etc," he added.

This comes after reports earlier in the day claimed that the governor has self-isolated himself after 16 members of the Raj Bhavan staff tested positive for the COVID-19.

BCCL

Out of the 16 staff members of Governor House, two had tested positive around eight days ago, according to BMC officials.

After this, 100 staffers were tested in which reports of 14 persons came out positive. This takes the total number of positive cases at Raj Bhavan to 16, the official said.

Though the source of the infection is not clear, civic health teams are engaged in taking various preventive measures at the Raj Bhavan complex in south Mumbai.

Among those who tested positive are senior staff members at Raj Bhavan. These staffers have been quarantined in their residential premises at Raj Bhavan itself. If the Raj Bhavan administration asks for an institutional quarantine, the civic body would shift them to the quarantine facility, the official said.

BCCL

BMC's D ward has sanitized and disinfected Raj Bhavan premises from time to time, and "If required, the BMC would make available its medical staff to assist doctors and medical staff at Raj Bhavan," the official said.

This comes as Maharashtra which has recorded 2,46,600 COVID-19 cases so far, continues to be the worst-hit state in India.

Out of this, Mumbai alone accounts for 91,745 COVID-19 infections.

BCCL

The Maharashtra government had extended the ongoing general lockdown until July 31. The notification issued by the state government has also restricted inter-district travel between municipal corporations within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), to that for office purposes and essential activities (like medical needs).

Though the infection rate in Maharashtra had slowed down for a brief period, the state has seen a surge in new infections in the past few days. For the first time, the 24 hour tally crossed 8,000 on Saturday.