THE TIMES OF INDIA (August 3, 2020)

 Mumbai: After 21 days in hospital, superstar Amitabh Bachchan beat Coronavirus and returned home on Sunday. His actor son Abhishek (44), who was admitted to Nanavati Hospital in Vile Parle on the same day as his father on July 11, continues to be hospitalized due to comorbidities.

The 77-year-old veteran actor was discharged after his latest Covid-19 test came negative. An ambulance from the hospital dropped Amitabh to his Juhu bungalow, Jalsa, on Sunday evening. “I have tested Covid-, have been discharged. I am back home in solitary quarantine,” the senior Bachchan tweeted. He also thanked his friends, fans and particularly the hospital staffers for their support in helping him recover from the infection. Sources said the actor was not completely symptom-free and continued to suffer from body ache and weakness that is known to linger in many Covid patients.

Abhishek took to Twitter on Sunday to inform that he was still in hospital. “I, unfortunately due to some comorbidities, remain Covid-19 positive and remain in hospital. Again, thank you all for your continued wishes and prayers for my family…”

A day after Amitabh and Abhishek’s hospitalisation, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and eight-year-old daughter Aaradhya had tested positive on July 12. While they initially chose to self-isolate at home, they got hospitalised on July 17 after both developed fever. Both were discharged on July 27 after they tested negative, but continued to be quarantined at home. Amitabh’s wife and actor Jaya Bachchan had tested negative along with their daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda and her family members.

Abhishek’s tweet that his father was discharged after a negative report once again underlined the question of repeat testing before discharge. A doctor involved in Covid care said patients can continue to test positive due to the residual virus in the body. “That can happen up to four weeks, but doesn’t necessarily mean the person is still infected or spreading the infection. One need not wait for a negative report if he/she is symptom-free. In cases where symptoms persist, we do carry out repeat tests,” the doctor said.
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Amitabh Bachchan shares news on social media; son Abhishek adds that he continues to be COVID-19 positive, and in admission
Shirish Vaktania (MID-DAY; August 3, 2020)

Amitabh Bachchan has been discharged from Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital, where he was being treated for COVID-19, after a 23-day stay. His son, Abhishek first broke the news of him testing negative, on social media. Later, Big B shared: "I have tested COVID negative and have been discharged. I am back home, in solitary quarantine."

Abhishek, who had also tested positive at the time, and was admitted alongside Big B, will continue to stay in the facility. "I, unfortunately, due to some co-morbidities remain COVID-19 positive and in hospital," Abhishek shared.

After news of Big B testing positive hit headlines, fans of the actor across the country conducted rituals to pray for his well-being. Bachchan's ardent fan, Sanjay Patola, who created a temple in Kolkata for the superstar, continually conducted a havan since his admission. "For me, Bachchan sir is God. As he has been discharged today, it is a big day for me," he told mid-day.