Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 15, 2020)

Actor Himani Shivpuri, currently battling Coronavirus in the isolation ward of a Mumbai hospital, feels people are taking the pandemic too lightly. Giving her own example, she says she followed every precaution possible. “People have been misled that recovery rate is high, mortality rate is low, and are beginning to get careless. This pandemic is there, and rising at an alarming rate. One gets surprised how the hell did they get it. I am very careful, masked, used sanitiser all the time, sanitised all surfaces, even my make-up room, and despite that, I still caught it. This means it’s a strong strain of virus. We have to be careful and not become complacent,” says the 59-year-old.

Shivpuri was shooting for a television show and an advertisement recently too. She says the producer of her show was kind enough to extend help. “She recommended me the doctor, who helped me get a room. They went out of the way, asked if I need money, I told them I am fine right now.”

Now better, the actor adds that initially, the panic sets in. “You feel you can’t be the person who has got it. But the way it’s spreading around… one is bound to come in contact with a Covid-19 positive person. I was admitted to the hospital, before that my temperature was high and I was imagining all sorts of things,” she tells us.

The rest of Shivpuri’s family is also in isolation at home. The worst affected, she feels, is her dog. “She is just cooped up inside the house as no one can go out or down. I want people to be aware, it’s been proved dogs are not Covid carriers,” rues the actor.