Coronavirus update: Swara Bhasker, Vishal Dadlani test positive for COVID-19

Actress Swara Bhasker and composer Vishal Dadlani have tested positive for COVID-19. They are the latest additions to the growing list of figures from the Hindi film industry who have contracted the virus such as Sonu Nigam, Alaya F and veteran actor Prem Chopra.

Taking to social media to inform her fans about her situation, Bhasker asked people who had come in contact with her to take precautions. The Sheer Qorma (2020) actress wrote, "Just got my RT-PCR test resulted and have tested positive. Been isolating & in quarantine. Symptoms include fever, a splitting headache, and loss of taste. Double vaccinated so hope this passes soon (sic)." 

Dadlani shared an image of his test kit on Instagram, saying, "This is for anyone who may have come in contact with me this last week or 10 days. Sadly, despite every precaution, I've tested Covid Positive. At no point, except during weekly shoots (where all testing protocols were followed to the best of my knowledge), have I met anyone without a mask on. Nor have I touched anything unsanitized, as far as I know (sic)." 

The composer added that his symptoms were 'mild, but still quite debilitating'. 

The third wave of the pandemic hit India in the first month of 2022. Over one lakh infections were reported yesterday. Apart from the 86-year-old Prem Chopra and his wife and Nigam and his son, producer Ekta Kapoor, actor John Abraham, actress Mrunal Thakur and director Rahul Rawail are among those who have tested positive in the past week alone.

The rising numbers have also caused several states to clamp down on cinema hall operations, with a number of producers opting to postpone the release of their projects in view of the situation.