India’s legendary movie actor, Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek tested positive for coronavirus and are said to be in a stable condition at a Mumbai Hospital.
In a tweet the 77-year-old said in a tweet on Saturday night that he had tested positive for the highly infectious virus.
T 3590 -I have tested CoviD positive .. shifted to Hospital .. hospital informing authorities .. family and staff undergone tests , results awaited ..
All that have been in close proximity to me in the last 10 days are requested to please get themselves tested !— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) July 11, 2020
Within minutes, his actor son Abhishek Bachchan, 44, tweeted that he had also tested positive.
Earlier today both my father and I tested positive for COVID 19. Both of us having mild symptoms have been admitted to hospital. We have informed all the required authorities and our family and staff are all being tested. I request all to stay calm and not panic. Thank you. 🙏🏽
— Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) July 11, 2020
Both were moved to the Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai despite showing only mild symptoms and the father-son duo appealed to their millions of fans to stay calm.
On Sunday, an official at Nanavati and government health officials in Mumbai said both the father and son were in stable condition. Reports were awaited on the condition of Amitabh Bachchan’s wife Jaya and Abhishek’s wife Aishwarya, both also highly regarded actors.
Meanwhile civic authorities launched a massive sanitising drill at Bachchan’s upscale residence in Mumbai, spraying disinfectant in the large compound and on cars parked there.
A Bollywood legend, Amitabh Bachchan has been a prominent figure in the fight against the coronavirus by appearing in public service advertisements in which he urges people to wear a mask, wash hands frequently and maintain social distance in his trademark baritone.
India’s film industry recently resumed film shoots after months of restrictions imposed in late March. But actors over 65, such as Amitabh, are banned from the sets because of their vulnerability to the virus.
Coronavirus cases have been rising steadily in India. The disease has infected over 820,000 people and killed over 22,000 in the country.