Poet Varavara Rao tests COVID-19 positive

Poet and activist Varavara Rao has tested COVID-19 positive. The Telugu poet and activist Varavara Rao was recently shifted to Sir JJ hospital in Mumbai due to his deteriorating health.

He was taken to the hospital after he complained of giddiness, has been keeping unwell for a while. His family members said they were very much worried about his deteriorating health. They said his health condition had been scary for over six weeks, ever since he was shifted in an unconscious state to JJ Hospital on May 28. Although he was discharged within a few days and taken back to jail, his wife had alleged that his health condition had not improved at the time.

Rao was arrested in November 2018 along with five others, for their alleged links with Naxals and inciting violence. On January 1, 2018, violence at Bhima Koregaon village in Pune district left one dead and several others injured including 10 policemen.