SP Balasubrahmanyam tests negative for COVID
There is some good news for all the fans of playback singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, who has been staging a battle against COVID 19.
SPB, as he is popularly known, has tested negative for the virus, his son SP Charan said on Monday. He said his father is stable.
“Thanks for your continuous support and prayers,” he said in a statement.
The 74-year-old singer continues to be on ventilator though, authorities at MGM Healthcare, where he is admitted, said.
On Sunday, the hospital, at Aminjikarai in Chennai, had said he was stable although he continued to be on ventilator support.
He was being taken care of by a multidisciplinary team of medical experts.
SPB got himself admitted to hospital on August 5 after he showed symptoms of COVID-19. While the symptoms were mild initially, his condition started deteriorating from August 13 and he had to be shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and put on life support.
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He was put on ECMO support, a machine that aids breathing and supports functioning of the heart, after his condition turned critical.
Charan has been giving constant updates through tweets and statements on his father’s health from the hospital.
His fans have been praying for his recovery. On August 20, even the film fraternity, led by Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, came together and observed a one-minute silent mass prayer for the singer. Musicians AR Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja and director and SPB’s close friend Bharathiraja were also among those who participated.
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Fans from all over the state, including Madurai, Salem and Erode, stood in front of the hospital holding candles. Special prayers were held for him even in other states. In Kerala, for instance, special prayers were held at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple. Social media handles such as “#GetWellSoonSPBSIR” and “#SPBalasubrahmanyam” trended while he was in hospital.
