Just after a day prime minister Narendra Modi asked Indians to prepare for the worst, by observing a self-imposed curfew on March 22, the western state of Maharashtra has ordered the lockdown of four cities to contain Covid-19. All offices in the country’s financial capital, Mumbai, besides Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Nagpur, will be closed till March 31, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray announced today (March 20). All shops, excluding those selling essential items, will also be shut. Maharashtra has the highest positive cases of coronavirus in the country.
Meanwhile, popular Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 today and has been admitted to a hospital in Lucknow. The 41-year-old singer reportedly returned from London last week and attended a party at a five-star hotel in Lucknow. Several high-profile people who were at this party, including Dushyant Raje, Vasundhara Raje, the national vice president of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, have self quarantined following the news.
Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor who had attended several gatherings in Lucknow and tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been booked for negligence and disobedience to the order issued by a public servant, an official said. The FIR was registered against the singer Kanika Kapoor at Sarojini Nagar police station, said Police Commissioner Surjit Pandey. “An FIR was lodged at the Sarojini Nagar police station under IPC Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life),270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant),” he told PTI.
The FIR was lodged on the complaint of the Lucknow chief medical officer. Two more FIRs are likely to be filed against the singer at the Hazratganj and Gomtinagar police stations as she had visited at least three gatherings in the areas falling under their jurisdiction. She is the first celebrity found COVID-19 positive in the Bollywood. In an official statement, the popular singer shared, “For the past 4 days I have had signs of flu, I got myself tested and it came positive for Covid-19. My family and I are in complete quarantine now and following medical advice on how to move forward. Contact mapping of people I have been in touch with is underway as well.”
The ‘Baby Doll’ singer went on to advise her followers to practice self-isolation amidst the massive health scare. “At this stage, I would like to urge you all to practice self-isolation and get tested if you have the signs. I am feeling ok, like the normal flu and a mild fever, however, we need to be sensible citizens at this time and think of all around us. We can get through this without panic only if we listen to the experts and our local, state and central government directives. Wishing everyone good health. Jai Hind! Take care,” shared Kanika. Stay tuned to get latest updates.
