October actor Banita Sandhu has issued a official statement, on the reports that she refused to get treatment at a government hospital in Kolkata, after she tested positive for the coronavirus. In a note shared on Instagram, Banita has said that she was never diagnosed with the disease. Banita, who arrived in Kolkata in early January to shoot for her film Kavita and Teresa, said she had tested negative in multiple Covid-19 tests, before and after her arrival in India. "I appreciate all the well wishes and concern; however, in spite of what has been published, I am grateful to say I continue to test negative for coronavirus. To clarify some of the misinformation: I flew to Kolkata on the 3rd of January to finish filming Kavita & Teresa. I had two negative COVID-19 PCR tests before leaving. I tested again on arrival and stayed in isolation at the CNCI hospital overnight until my results returned the next day, one a false positive and the other negative," she wrote.
However, when she learned that despite getting a negative result, she would have been made to isolate with two Covid-19 positive patients, she chose shift to a private hospital instead. "I was taken to Beleghata Hospital to carry out more tests. However, after being informed I would be quarantined with two COVID-19 positive patients, I asked to self-isolate in a private facility while I waited to be tested again. At Medica, I continued to produce negative COVID-19 PCR results every two days; on the 11th of January, I was discharged," she wrote. Banita is still grateful for all that medical workers are doing during the pandemic. "I understand the gravity of the situation and have made every effort to adhere to government guidelines to ensure the safety of others as well as my own. Also, I'd especially like to thank all the medical staff. I have seen first-hand how tirelessly they are working right now. They are genuine heroes who deserve so much credit for their extraordinary commitment to helping us through these incredibly challenging times. Stay safe everyone," she wrote.
Earlier, reports were rife that, the actress who was in Kolkata to shoot for a movie, tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to a private hospital after she refused to be treated in a government facility. On the work front, Banita Sandhu will next be seen in a film called Kavita & Teresa. The film helmed by by Kamal Musale and is set in old charm Calcutta (now Kolkata) as it tracks the early days of Mother Teresa's life in the slums of the city. Banita Sandhu made her acting debut with Shoojit Sircar's 2018 film October, in which she co-starred with Varun Dhawan. Next year, Banita made her debut in Tamil cinema with Adithya Varma. Banita Sandhu has also featured in American sci-fi series Pandora and has starred in the English film Eternal Beauty.