New Delhi:

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, has been shifted to a private hospital and will be given plasma therapy, doctors said. The minister is experiencing difficulty in breathing and is running high fever. He has also developed pneumonia.

“His latest CT scan report shows that the pneumonia patches in his lungs have increased. He experienced increased giddiness and tiredness today. The advice of doctors will be followed,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

According to sources, he has been shifted to Max Hospital’s Saket facility in south Delhi.

Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted on Friday to wish for his speedy recovery. “Praying for the speedy recovery of Shri Satyendra Jain, Health Minister of Delhi who is battling with COVID-19 infection,” he tweeted.

Praying for the speedy recovery of Shri Satyendra Jain, Health Minister of Delhi who is battling with COVID-19 infection.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 19, 2020

Lt Governor Anil Baijal also wished him good health. “Praying for speedy recovery & good health of Hon’ble Minister, GNCTD @SatyendarJain ji,” he tweeted.

Praying for speedy recovery & good health of Hon’ble Minister, GNCTD @SatyendarJain ji.

— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) June 19, 2020

Mr Jain had tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, a day after he was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH) in the national capital after running high-grade fever and suffering sudden drop in oxygen levels. He had first tested negative for the virus. His second test, however, came positive. “Today my covid test found to be positive (sic),” he had written on Twitter.

Sources in Delhi government had on Wednesday said people who interacted with him in the last couple of days would be quarantined as per the advice of the doctors.

On Sunday, Mr Jain attended a high-level meeting on the coronavirus situation in the national capital, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which was also attended by Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

On Tuesday, AAP MLA Atishi tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The 39-year-old, who represents the Kalkaji constituency in south Delhi, complained of a mild fever and cough on Tuesday, after which she was screened for the COVID-19 virus.

Earlier this month, Mr Kejriwal had tested negative after he had taken ill.

Plasma Therapy involves transfusion of plasma from a convalescent coronavirus patient to a critical patient. The blood of a convalescent patient is rich in antibodies that are expected to help the critical patient recover.

The centre had called it an experimental procedure and said there was “no concrete evidence to support plasma therapy as coronavirus treatment.” There have been reports, however, of COVID-19 patients getting cured after undergoing the treatment. 

With inputs from PTI