• This afternoon, former President Pranab Mukherjee revealed that he has tested positive for coronavirus and requested people who came into contact with him recently to self-isolate by sharing a post on twitter.

”I found myself positive while I went for a routine check-up”, said Mukherjee.

“On a visit to the hospital for a separate procedure, I have tested positive for COVID19 today. I request the people who came in contact with me in the last week, to please self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19,” tweeted Mukherjee.

As news spread, leaders, cutting across party lines, wished Mukherjee a quick recovery.
”Please take care sir. We are praying for your speedy recovery and good health”, tweeted Arvind Kejriwal, Chief minister of Delhi.
”I pray for the well-being and speedy recovery of Shri Pranab Mukherjee. I am confident he will be successful in recovering from the virus quickly. Wishing him strength and good health”, tweeted Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Minister of Commerce and Industry.

The former President, 84, had cancelled all his engagements and stopped going out for public functions the last few months. In the wake of raging coronavirus epidemic, the government had asked all senior citizens (above the age of 65) to stay at home.

Mukherjee, who served as the 13th President of India between 2012 to 2017, was invited for the at home programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan, which he will not be attending in the wake of this development.