Maharashtra Cabinet Minister tests positive for COVID-19

A senior Congress leader is reported to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, party sources said late on Sunday.  His condition has been defined as asymptomatic and he is under treatment in his home town.

According to the report in India Today, the Minister has been travelling between Mumbai and his hometown frequently, PTI sources said. An official said, "He contracted the infection a few days back and is now undergoing treatment.”

Notably, he is the second prominent minister in Uddhav Thackeray led the government to contract the deadly infection. This is the second case in the state with a senior NCP leader earlier infected with the virus last month.  Earlier in April, NCP leader was detected with coronavirus.  He was cured and discharged recently after a month’s treatment in a hospital in Mumbai.

Congress MLA in Maharashtra’s neighbouring state Gujarat had found positive for coronavirus in April, following which Vijay Rupani, Chief Minister of Gujarat went into self-quarantine.

Meanwhile, there is a continuous surge in cases of coronavirus in Maharashtra with the tally now has crossed the mark of 50,000. Several districts in Maharashtra such as Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad are worst hit in the state.