COVID-19: Mamata's trusted lieutenants in self-quarantine

Two trusted lieutenants of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee - both members of Rajya Sabha - have gone into self-quarantine in view of the coronavirus scare.

Derek O'Brien, considered the face of the party in the Upper House, took the step as per protocol to escape any secondary infection as he had come in contact with a BJP MP who was present at a dinner in Lucknow recently where Bollywood celebrity singer Kanika Kapoor was also a guest. Kapoor tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.

"Yes, I am at home, and in self-isolation," O'Brien told IANS.

In a separate video message, the Trinamool spokesman said: "Am in self-isolation and following all protocol, as I was sitting right next to Dushyant Singh for one and half hours at a parliamentary committee on transport meeting on March 18.

"That day I don't remember shaking his hand. But thankfully I was wearing a mask. As a matter of abundant caution I am at home here in Delhi. My daughter is in another room, my wife is in another room," he said.

"Stay safe, and be careful. We will win this together", he added.

Another Trinamool MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy has also decided to remain in self-quarantine for 14 days. Roy had informed the House about his decision on Thursday. IANS