Telangana Home Minister Tests Positive For Coronavirus; Admitted To Private Hospital

Ali was admitted to the hospital after complaints of cough and cold. A few days ago, Ali's gunman had also tested positive for the deadly virus.

Ali was admitted to the hospital after complaints of cough and cold. (File Phot/ Telangana CMO)

Hyderabad: Telangana Home Minister Mohammad Mahmood Ali was on Saturday admitted to a private hospital in Hyderabad after he was tested positive for the novel Coronavirus infection. Ali is first cabinet minister in Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's cabinet to test positive for Covid-19. As per reports, Ali was admitted to the hospital after complaints of cough and cold. A few days ago, Ali's gunman had also tested positive for the deadly virus. It is being said that the minister actively participated in the recently held 'Haritha Haram' plantation drive in Hyderabad with senior police officials. Replying to a query on the minister testing positive for Coronavirus, Health Minister E Rajender told reporters that the virus can infect anyone. "Already, many MLAs have got (tested positive for COVID-19). Anything happened to any of them? Many IPS, IAS have got (tested positive)," he said. "Corona does not see caste, religion, stature and financial status. If one is exposed, he gets infected... it should not be made into a scene," Rajender told reporters. Earlier, three ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs had also tested positive for the Coronavirus. According to state health ministry, over 5,000 Covid-19 patients in Telangana are undergoing treatment at their homes through telemedicine facility. While a total of 7,109 people tested positive were in home isolation, 1,438 have recovered and 5,671 were under treatment. Only 26 had to be shifted from their homes to hospitals. State Health Minister also said that those tested positive but were asymptomatic or with mild symptoms were being treated in home isolation and they were recovering in 7-10 days. As on Sunday, Telangana had 9,000 active cases of Covid-19. Over 3,000 were undergoing treatment at various government and private hospitals. Rajender appealed to people not to get worried over the increasing number of cases and clarified that there is no shortage of beds, oxygen, ventilators or medicines in government-run hospitals. The state government also appealed to the people not to believe the misinformation being circulated over social media and rely on the information from the government. The appeal came after a selfie video of a Covid patient at government-run Chest Hospital in Hyderabad complaining about alleged negligence went viral over social media. Out of the total 17,081 beds available in government hospitals for treatment of Covid patients in the state, Rajender informed that 3,500 are equipped with oxygen supply while work was on to provide oxygen for another 6,500 beds. He said the hospitals had 1,000 ventilators and the Gandhi Hospital has only 10 patients on ventilators. The minister also announced that 4,700 doctors and nursing staff recruited on war footing would be deployed in government hospitals from Tuesday while additional 150 ambulances will also be provided.