India's Interior Minister Amit Shah has been admitted to hospital after catching the coronavirus becoming the most senior politician in the country to test positive for the disease.
Amit Shah arriving at Parliament House, New Delhi, on 1 February. Photo: AFP
Shah, a close aide to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, heads a ministry that has been at the forefront of managing the epidemic.
India's coronavirus outbreak is the third worst in the world behind the United states and Brazil, with nearly 1.7 million confirmed cases and 36,500 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.
"I request all of you who came in contact with me in the last few days to isolate yourselves and get tested," Shah said in a tweet.
Shah, 55, said he had got himself tested after exhibiting initial symptoms of COVID-19. "My health is fine but I am being hospitalised on the advice of doctors," he added.
An interior ministry spokesman told Reuters he was unable to immediately comment on when Shah had last met with Modi.
(File photo) Amitabh Bachchan at the Kolkata International Film Festival in 2019, Photo: AFP
Amitabh Bachchan recovers from Covid-19
One of India's best known film stars, Amitabh Bachchan, who was hospitalised last month after being diagonsed with Covid-19, has been discharged after his latest test came back negative, he said.
Last month the 77-year-old actor told his millions of Twitter followers that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.
On Sunday, he said he had left hospital after testing negative and thanked his fans for their prayers, as well as staff at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai for their "excellent care".
Bachchan was admitted to hospital last month along with his son, Abhishek, who also tested positive. The actor's daughter-in-law and granddaughter also had positive tests.
India is currently seeing a surge in coronavirus infections.
On Sunday the country recorded more than 50,000 new cases for the fourth day in a row. Maharashtra, home to the financial capital, Mumbai, has been the worst affected state but there are rapid rises in other areas including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Assam.
A man being tested for Covid-19 at a New Delhi hospital. Photo: AFP
Amitabh Bachchan is one of the world's most prolific film stars having been involved in 200 films in five decades as a star.
With roles in hit movies such as Zanjeer and Sholay he has a huge fan following in India, South Asia and among the Indian diaspora in countries including the UK.
Since rising to fame in the 1970s, he has won numerous accolades including four National Film Awards and 15 Filmfare Awards. France has also bestowed its highest civilian award on him - the Legion of Honour - for his contribution to cinema.
Outside acting, Bachchan had a brief stint in politics and was elected as a member of India's parliament in 1984 at the behest of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But he resigned three years later, disillusioned by a corruption scandal under Gandhi's government.
- Reuters / BBC
