UP minister who held press meet amid curbs undergoes COVID-19 test, prompts isolation of 3 MLAs

Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh on Friday took a test for coronavirus as it emerged that he was at a party thrown by celebrity singer Kanika Kapoor who is now suffering from COVID-19, while three BJP MLAs who met him on Thursday went into self-isolation, sources said.

Noida MLA and BJP state general secretary Pankaj Singh, Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh and Dadri MLA Tejpal Nagar took to Twitter to say they are going into-self isolation as a precautionary measure as they had met the health minister on Thursday in Greater Noida.

"The health minister has undergone a test for coronavirus and its result is awaited. He has for the time being isolated himself," an official source told PTI.

The minister was in Gautam Buddh Nagar on Thursday where he held a press conference to talk about the achievements of the state government in the last three years.

The meetin was, held in a conference hall at the district collectorate with over 50 people including several mediapersons inside the room.

Asked if the coronavirus outbreak was an appropriate time to hold press conferences and talk about the government's achievements, the minister said, "It's absolutely appropriate. We have completed three years and it was a scheduled programme".

Former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and her MP son Dushyant Singh
MLA Dhirendra Singh said, "I am going on self-isolation till the health minister's test result is received. I pray for the good health and prosperity of everyone. I will stay connected over the phone."