Bollywood's Bachchan tests positive for COVID-19
In India's Bhopal, fans of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan are praying for his swift recovery after the 77-year-old actor tested positive for the new coronavirus.
[Bachchan fan saying... "We are praying to the god that Amitabh Bachchan recovers very soon and makes a comeback in the film industry and entertains us again."]
A hospital official and government health authorities said India's most famous film star and his son Abhishek are in a stable condition having been transferred to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai with only mild symptoms of the respiratory disease.
Amitabh tweeted on Saturday (July 11) night that he had tested positive with his actor son tweeting the same minutes later.
Reports were being awaited on Amitabh's wife Jaya and Abishek's wife Aishwarya - who are both also highly regarded actors.
Meanwhile civic authorities launched a massive sanitizing drill at Bachchan's residence, spraying disinfectant in the large compound and on cars parked there.
Coronavirus cases have been steadily rising in India, where the disease has now killed over 22,000 people and infected more than 820,000.
Amitabh has been a prominent figure in the fight against the new coronavirus - appearing in public service advertisements in which he urges people to wear a mask, wash hands frequently and maintain social distancing.
India's film industry recently resumed shoots after a months-long hiatus buts actors over 65, such as Amitabh, are barred from sets because of their vulnerability to the virus.
