After the news of actors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Amrita Arora testing Covid-19 positive post attending director Karan Johar‘s dinner party, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar has said it is not right to be carefree when the pandemic has not ended.
“Kareena has two kids at home. It does not suit well to act carefree when the COVID-19 pandemic has not ended. We have contacted the Grand Hyatt Hotel where a party was held and Kareena attended it. We are tracing others who were present there,” the mayor said according to Indian Express.
On Monday, Kapoor Khan had tested positive for the virus along with Arora. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had then accused the actors of violating Covid norms by attending several parties. The corporation also said that the former’s family was not cooperating with them.
According to a report in India Today, BMC sources informed that the Kapoor’s family was not revealing information. Her family members told BMC that Saif Ali Khan has not been in Mumbai for the past week. However, they haven’t revealed anything about when he will be back, the report stated. Reports also state that the actor’s house help has tested positive.
While the city’s mayor has called out Kapoor, the actor’s spokesperson has said that she has been “extremely careful”. “Kareena has been extremely responsible throughout the lockdown period. She has been careful every time she’s stepped out. Unfortunately, this time she and Amrita Arora contracted Covid at an intimate dinner where a few friends had gathered to catch up. It wasn’t a big party as was reported. Among that group, there was one person who seemed unwell and was coughing, and who eventually passed it on. This person should have been responsible enough to not attend the dinner and put others at risk,” the spokesperson said.
“As soon as she tested positive she has quarantined herself and is following the necessary precautions and protocols to deal with the condition. It is not fair to put the blame on her and say that she has been irresponsible and let her guards down. Kareena is a responsible citizen and also has the concern and care for safeguarding her family,” he added.
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Apart from the two actors, Seema Khan and Maheep Kapoor also tested positive after the dinner party. On Wednesday actor Shanaya Kapoor too announced on social media that she has tested positive for Covid-19. “I have tested positive for Covid-19. As of today, I have mild symptoms, but I’m feeling ok and have isolated myself. I had tested negative four days ago however, while testing again as precaution the results came positive. I am following the protocol given by my doctor and health professionals. If you have been in contact with me, request you to please get tested. Stay safe everyone,” she wrote.
While some media blamed Johar and called his home a “super spreader”, the filmmaker took to social media and wrote, “To some members of the media, I would like (to) clarify that an eight people intimate gathering is not a ‘party’ and my home, which we maintain strict protocols in, is certainly no ‘hotspot’ of Covid. All of us are responsible and masked at all times and no one would treat this pandemic lightly. My request to certain members of the media is to exercise some restraint in their extreme reportage without the assessment of facts! Lots of love and safety to all.”
He also revealed that he and his family have tested negative.