Ahmed Patel in ICU after COVID

NEW DELHI, Nov 15:  Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who tested positive for COVID-19 a few weeks ago, has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon for further treatment, his family said today.
They said Patel’s condition is stable and he continues to be under medical observation.
Several Congress leaders, including former party president Rahul Gandhi, wished a speedy recovery to the AICC treasurer.
Patel, 71, had announced on Twitter on October 1 that he contacted Coronavirus.
In a tweet today, Ahmed Patel’s son Faisal said, “On behalf of his family, we would like to share that Shri Ahmed Patel had tested positive for COVID-19 a few weeks ago. He has now been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon for further treatment.”
“His condition is stable and he continues to be under medical observation…We request you to pray for his speedy recovery,” he said.
In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi said, “I wish Ahmed Patel ji a speedy and complete recovery at the earliest. The party needs his able guidance every step of the way.”
Describing Patel as “an extraordinary figure in Indian politics”, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said the veteran leader battles for his health.
“I have long been an admirer of his exceptional qualities & wish him a speedy & complete recovery. He has pulled off many great victories; praying that this will be one more!” Tharoor said.
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said he was deeply concerned and praying for the good health of his “friend and comrade” Ahmed Patel.
A host of Congress leaders, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Manish Tewari and Sachin Pilot, wished a speedy recovery to Patel.
Many Congress leaders, including Abhishek Singhvi and Tarun Gogoi, had also tested positive for COVID-19 earlier. Besides Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, several Union Ministers had also been infected with the Novel Coronavirus earlier.
Meanwhile, India’s COVID-19 caseload has gone past the 88-lakh mark, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease has crossed 82 lakh, pushing the national recovery rate to 93.09 per cent, according to the health ministry’s data updated today.
The total number of Coronavirus cases mounted to 88,14,579 with 41,100 of those reported in a day, while the death toll climbed to 1,29,635 with 447 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The number of active cases remained below five lakh for the fifth consecutive day. There are 4,79,216 active cases of the Coronavirus infection in the country as on date, which accounts for 5.44 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
The total number of recoveries has surged to 82,05,728, pushing the national recovery rate to 93.09 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.47 per cent.
The country’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and 40 lakh on September 5.
It went past the 50-lakh mark on September 16, 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11 and 80 lakh on October 29. (PTI)