Pune: Seven members from mayor’s family catch the coronavirus

PUNE: A day after mayor Murlidhar Mohol was confirmed as a Covid-19 patient, seven persons from his family also came down with the virus, testing positive on Sunday.
Eight family members were tested. “The tests for the high risk and those in close contact were carried out immediately. These included family members. The low-risk contacts, such as PMC officals, who attended the meeting chaired by the mayor will be tested soon,” Pune municipal commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said on Sunday.
He said the protocols set by the government and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are being followed.
“The low-risk contacts may show symptoms after four to five days. So, we will have to wait for a couple of days to conduct these tests of our officials who have met mayor in person,” he said.
The tests of senior officials, health department officials will be conducted. “I too was present with the mayor for a meeting held under the chairmanship of the guardian minister. I will also take the test,” Gaikwad added.
Since the outbreak of the virus in the city, Mohol has been active in mitigation measures. He visited health facilities, hospitals and quarantine centres.
He has also participated in the delegations that went to containment areas, Naidu Hospital and Covid care centres. He also took up nCoV relief measures and drives carried out by social organisations.
Meanwhile, Mohol took to Twitter to declare that he was a Covid-19 patient. “I felt feverish. So I conducted my Covid-19 test. It has come positive,” read the tweet. The communication has been shared on a mayor office’s media WhatsApp group.
It added, “I am stable. I will join the mitigation service after recovering fully. I will be in touch with all the authorities and keep taking a review of the works.”
"Mohol is recovering and responding to treatment," said a doctor from Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital where he is undergoing treatment.
Mohol had attended a review meeting of the pandemic on Friday which was chaired by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. He was also present at another meeting a few days ago where NCP leader Sharad Pawar, home minister Anil Deshmukh and health minister Rajesh Tope were present.