New Delhi, Oct 13(UNI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said that physical fitness, mental tenacity, regular physical exercise and eating only desi (traditional) food helped him to overcome COVID-19 infection.



In a Facebook post, the Vice president, who tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday, said, 'I firmly believe that in spite of my age and certain medical problems like diabetes, I could overcome COVID-19 infection because of my physical fitness, mental tenacity, regular physical exercise like walking and yoga, apart from eating only desi (traditional) food. I have always preferred to eat desi food and continued the same during my self-isolation period too. '



' Based on my own experience and firm conviction, I urge everyone to undertake some of physical exercise daily—be it walking, jogging or yoga. Also, it is important to eat protein-rich food and avoid junk food. Equally crucial for the people is to not lower their guard and to strictly adhere to the protocols like wearing masks, washing hands frequently and maintaining personal hygiene at all times,'the Vice President said.



Mr Naidu said that during the home quarantine, he was able to spend a good amount of time by reading newspapers, magazines and articles on various issues, including the pandemic.



'During the home quarantine, I was able to spend a good amount of time by reading newspapers, magazines and articles on various issues, including the pandemic. As I have also been studying different facets of the freedom movement, I am also writing two Facebook posts every week on the sacrifices and valour of unsung heroes of the freedom struggle,'he said.



Praising the strategy of the government to contain the spread of COVID-19, he said, 'the Government of India has been adopting a well-calibrated strategy to contain the spread of COVID-19. The need of the hour is for people to display a collective determination to defeat the virus by wearing masks, washing hands and following safe distancing norms.'



Though he has recovered from COVID-19 , the Vice president said that he will not be able to attend public functions through video conferencing and work from home for a week or so, as advised by the doctors.



'I will not be able to attend public functions through video conferencing and work from home for a week or so, as advised by the doctors,'he said.



Mr Naidu said that he was in home quarantine after he tested positive on September 29th and took all necessary steps to combat the virus as per medical advice.



'Firstly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all the people from various walks of life—governors, chief ministers, union ministers, ministers from different states, legislators, politicians of divergent hues and others cutting across religions and regions—for their best wishes and prayers for my speedy recovery from COVID-19 infection,'he said.



He said that his wife Usha Naidu is not at all affected by the novel Coronavirus.



'I am also quite delighted that my wife Usha Naidu is not at all affected by the novel Coronavirus. She is hale and hearty. I am also equally happy to learn that 13 employees working in the Vice President’s Secretariat, who were declared as COVID-19 positive earlier, have fully recovered.





Similarly, I am pleased to know that 136 COVID-19 affected employees of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat have recovered. While 127 of the officials are attending office, the remaining are functioning from home,'the Vice president said.



Expressing his thanks to medical staff, who were in charge of monitoring my health condition, the Vice president said, 'I am also thankful to doctors and other medical staff, who were in charge of monitoring my health condition, and also to experts from AIIMS and other doctors, who provided guidance and advice from time to time to the medical staff. I am truly pleased with their commitment and service.'



'I would also like to appreciate my personal staff, Vikrant and Chaitanya, for staying back at Upa Rashtrapati Nivas and taking care of me round-the-clock. Of course, they adhered to all the prescribed protocols while attending on me. I can never forget the services rendered by them. I also maintained telephonic contact with close friends and relatives during home quarantine,'the Vice president said.

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