VK Sasikala Tests Positive For COVID-19, Suffers Lung Infection

Former AIADMK leader VK Sasikala has tested positive for COVID-19 and was shifted to intensive care unit on Thursday. Medical superintendent at Victoria Hospital said that she is not suffering from any other complications. He informed that he oxygen levels are maintained at 98 per cent with a lung infection. 

Sasikala was admitted to hospital on Wednesday morning, is in a stable condition now. However, she will reportedly have to go through a CT scan and a few other tests.

The former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa's close aide, who is serving her jail term at the Parappana Agrahara Prison, complained of breathlessness on Wednesday and reportedly had a fever as well. She was admitted to Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute and Hospital.

According to Manoj Kumar HV, the director of Bowring Hospital, she was suffering from fever for two days before she arrived at the hospital and was in the prison hospital itself prior to that.

Sasikala's oxygen saturation level had dropped to 79, which was way below the normal saturation level of 95 and above, on Wednesday evening when she was admitted to the hospital. The politician, however, tested negative for COVID-19. Sasikala also suffers from multiple co-morbidities for which she is already receiving treatment.

"When she was brought in, she had breathlessness. But there was no fever. She was shifted to the ICU today morning. This was not because her condition deteriorated, but because we wanted to monitor her. She has a Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI). Nevertheless, her COVID-19 tests have come as negative. Her condition has improved since she was admitted and she is stable now.” Manoj Kumar VK further added.

Sasikala was discharged today from Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bengaluru and shifted to Victoria hospital. This was because the latter is designated to treat convicts lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. Furthermore, the doctors at Victoria Hospital said that a CT Scan of her chest will be performed at Victoria hospital, as the equipment at Bowring was not functional.

VK Sasikala was admitted to the hospital just days from when she is scheduled to leave the prison on January 27. She was sentenced to four years of imprisonment in February 2017 in the 66 crore rupees disproportionate assets case.

Image Credit: NDTV