Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal tests positive for Covid-19

Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday. Taking to social media, the minister confirmed that he was reported coronavirus positive. "I would like to inform everyone that I have tested positive for COVID and I will be in quarantine for the next coming days. I got myself tested before the session and then again immediately after the session. Before the session, I tested negative. After the session, I have tested positive," he said.

The minister urged people who have been in contact with him in recent days to get tested for coronavirus. Punjab, Karnataka, and Kerala are the only three states where the number of new Covid-19 cases is more than 1,000 so far. The infection has sharply increased in Punjab and Maharashtra, while it has moderately risen in Kerala. In view of increasing COVID-19 cases, Ludhiana's District Collector has imposed a night curfew in the district from March 12 between 11 pm to 5 am till further orders. Police and Army personnel on duty, government employees on duty, essential services, medical emergency are exempted. Meanwhile, the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination has crossed 2.56 crores coverage, the union health ministry informed on Thursday evening.