Sanitisation, Contact Tracing And Testing Follow Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek, Aishwarya And Aaradhya Testing COVID-19 Positive

New Delhi: Contact tracing and testing continue after legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and his actor-producer son Abhishek tested positive for Coronavirus on Saturday (July 11). Among the immediate family, Abhishek’s wife, actress and former Miss World, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and their daughter Aaradhya tested COVID-19 positive on Sunday (July 12), while his mother, actor turned politician and current Member of Parliament, Jaya Bachchan tested negative.

In Pics: Amitabh Bachchan’s Top 5 Quotes On Health And Cleanliness

Almost immediately on Sunday (July 12), Amitabh Bachchan’s all four bungalows – Pratiksha, Janak, Vatsa and Jalsa, where the actor currently lives with his family – were sealed by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after proper sanitisation, news agency ANI reported. All the residents have been placed under 14-day quarantine.

Post the actors’ diagnosis, 26 staff members working at their bungalows were also tested for COVID-19. On Monday, Vishwas Mote, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, K West ward, said all the staff members tested negative for the virus.

Although the source of the infection is not clear but recently in an interview with NDTV, actor Abhishek Bachchan informed that only he is stepping out of the house for work and everyone else is at home. Junior Bachchan told NDTV,

I have been the first one to step out. I have been dubbing for the English version of Breathe (actor’s latest project for an OTT platform) and everyone else is at home.

Also Read: ‘Only A Swachh India Can Become A Swasth Bharat,’ Amitabh Bachchan On Supporting The Clean India Cause

The actor also shared the precautions he has been taking while venturing out of the house during a pandemic and the preventive measures being taken at the dubbing studio. He said,

Everybody is very cognizant of the fact that we have to change our normal practices. Everything is as contactless as possible. Doors are not touched. Masks, gloves, face shields are worn. They sanitise dubbing booth before I come in and once, I am there nobody comes in.

Currently, after testing positive both Abhishek and his father are hospitalised in Mumbai’s Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital, while Aishwarya and their daughter are in home quarantine. Though as of now, Amitabh Bachchan has mild symptoms and his condition is stable, he is a senior citizen and has pre-existing medical conditions qualifying him for medical care.

On Sunday (July 12), talking about the current medical condition of Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek, Dr Abdul Samad Ansari, the head of critical care in Nanavati hospital, told NDTV,

Huge responsibility on our shoulders to take care of the biggest icon and his son. Their condition is very stable. They have mild symptoms and their vitals are absolutely under control. Usually, by the 10th or 12th day, peak disease impact on the body is witnessed. Today would be the fifth day since Amitabh Ji’s symptoms have surfaced, we have to watch closely for another seven days and see how the disease evolves. In the next three days, we will be able to see the evolution trajectory. It’s very likely that he may remain to have a very mild version.

Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan Launches Banega Swasth India Campaign, Sets The Agenda For The ‘Swachh To Swasth’ Initiative

Mr Bachchan has been on the forefront of many health campaigns of the government from polio eradication to Tuberculosis awareness initiatives. He has been the campaign ambassador for NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign since 2014 and after five years when the campaign changed gear to become Banega Swasth India in 2019, Mr Bachchan was on the forefront of that too. In August 2019, during the launch of the campaign, Mr Bachchan had talked about his medical conditions and shared that in 1982, during a film shoot happened many years katehe suffered a serious accident that required immediate surgery and 60 units of blood. One of the units happened to be infected with Hepatitis B, adversely affecting Mr Bachchan’s liver. But the diagnosis of Hepatitus B happened many years later during a regular body checkup. Recalling the same, Mr Bachchan said,

I don’t mind saying it publicly that I’m a TB survivor, I’m a Hepatitis B survivor. Due to a bad blood infusion, 75 per cent of my liver was damaged. But because I was able to detect it even after a period of 20 years when 75 per cent of my liver was gone, I’m still surviving on 25 per cent and this is what I’m able to propagate that get yourself tested, get yourself diagnosed and then there is a cure.

Also Read: Despite 75 Percent Damage To His Liver 20 Years Ago, Amitabh Bachchan Said Regular Checkups Help Him Lead A Healthy Life

Even at the outset of the Coronavirus outbreak in India the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare roped in Mr Bachchan to spread awareness about prevention and symptoms to look out for, for COVID-19.

Watch the message here:

Mr Bachchan had also pitched in by sponsoring personal protective equipment (PPE) earlier on in the fight against Novel Coronavirus, according to a social media post shared by Nanavati Hospital.

Ever since the news of Mr Bachchan and his son contracting the virus went public, ‘get well soon’ messages flooded the social media platforms from people from all walks of life. Both Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek continued to be in touch with their fans via social media.

See more

Here’s wishing Mr. Bachchan and his family a speedy recovery.

Also Read: Pay Attention To Amitabh Bachchan’s Message On Say No To Plastic

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.