Rahul Gandhi tests COVID-19 positive with mild symptoms

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has become the latest politician to test positive for COVID-19. Rahul took to Twitter to confirm that he has tested positive with mild symptoms. "After experiencing mild symptoms, I’ve just tested positive for COVID. All those who’ve been in contact with me recently, please follow all safety protocols and stay safe," he tweeted Tuesday afternoon. 

The news comes in the backdrop of former prime minister Manmohan Singh testing positive and getting admitted to AIIMS in Delhi on Monday. 

Rahul had recently cancelled all his political rallies in West Bengal in view of alarming surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.

Earlier in the day, he had hit out at the government over its vaccine policy, alleging it is discriminatory and that there is no vaccine guarantee for the weaker sections. He also said that there will be no free vaccines for those between the age of 18 and 45 years.

"No free vaccines for 18-45 yr olds. Middlemen brought in without price controls. No vaccine guarantee for weaker sections. GOI's Vaccine Discrimination- Not Distribution- Strategy," he said in a tweet.

The government on Monday announced that all adults will be eligible for COVID vaccination from May 1 while private hospitals and states will be able to buy doses directly from manufacturers.

The decisions aimed at scaling up inoculation came as 25 lakh cases were added in just 15 days in the country and several states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan demanded that the age restriction of 45 years be removed for the vaccination.

Under the third phase of the vaccination drive commencing next month, the vaccine manufacturers would be free to supply 50 percent doses to state governments and in the open market for which they will have to make an advance declaration of the price before May 1, according to an official statement.