The condition of Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who tested positive for COVID-19, has deteriorated and has been put on oxygen support after his lung infection increased, his office said in a statement on Friday. The 55-year-old minister is fighting pneumonia and has been prescribed plasma therapy.
The minister, admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital early on Tuesday, will also be shifted to Saket’s Max Hospital, for administering the plasma therapy for COVID-19.
Jain was admitted to the hospital and was administered a test for the novel coronavirus infection on Tuesday morning, for which he tested negative. But he still ran fever and showed symptoms, so another test was done after 24 hours of the first. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday took over the charge of health, PWD, power and other departments held by his cabinet colleague.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted wishing Jain’s speedy recovery. “Praying for the speedy recovery of Shri Satyendra Jain, Health Minister of Delhi who is battling with COVID-19 infection,” Shah tweeted.
Earlier in the day, Jain was kept on full-time on oxygen support as his oxygen saturation level (Spo2) dipped. “We have put him fully on oxygen support as his Spo2 level had fallen to 89 at one point, normal level is about 95. Also, he has been diagnosed with pneumonia, so we are shifting him to an ICU at the hospital,” PTI quoted a senior official of the hospital.