In a shocking development that comes days after the conclusion of the parliamentary session, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu has tested positive for the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, becoming the first highest constitutional authority in India to get confirmed to have contracted to the viral infection.

Being the Vice-President, 71-years-old Venkaiah Naidu holds the nation's second-highest office after the President and he is also the chairman of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament. He had presided over the proceedings of Rajya Sabha in the monsoon session, that had recently concluded amid the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The session, which scheduled for 18 days, had witnessed over 25 MPs (from both the houses) who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. As the sequel of the spread among the parliamentarians, the session, which was scheduled till October 1, had adjourned indefinitely on September 23. According to reports, the Vice-President could have contracted to the viral infection during the parliamentary session. The Vice-President's secretariat had issued conformity that he had tested positive for the pandemic. 

The Secretariat said that the Vice-President is asymptomatic and in good health and he underwent a routine COVID-19 test on Tuesday morning following which his sample returned positive. The secretariat stated, "The Vice President of India who underwent a routine COVID-19 test today morning has been tested positive. He is however, asymptomatic and in good health. He has been advised home quarantine. His wife Smt. Usha Naidu has been tested negative and is in self-isolation".

The Vice President of India who underwent a routine COVID-19 test today morning has been tested positive. He is however, asymptomatic and in good health. He has been advised home quarantine. His wife Smt. Usha Naidu has been tested negative and is in self-isolation.

— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) September 29, 2020

Venkaiah Naidu is one of the notable national faces getting affected by the global pandemic. Earlier, nearly ten Union Ministers including Home Minister Amit Shah, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ayush Minister Shripad Naik, and Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi had tested positive for the pandemic. Of these top office-bearers, Suresh Angadi had died of the viral infection earlier this month, becoming the first minister in Modi's government to succumb to the viral infection. 

According to the Union Health Ministry, India has reported 62,25,763 positive cases so far as of Wednesday morning 8 am of which 51,87,825 have been recovered and 97,497 had succumbed to the pandemic. In the last 24 hours, till Wednesday 8 am, India has reported 80,472 fresh COVID-19 cases, 86,468 discharges, and 1,179 fresh deaths.