NEW DELHI: Lav Agarwal, the joint secretary in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, who was for long the face of the Centre’s COVID-19 communication, has tested positive for the infectious SARS CoV-2.

A 1996-batch IAS from Andhra Pradesh cadre, Agarwal announced on Twitter on Friday evening, “Dear All, Just to inform that I have tested positive for Covid 19 and initiating home isolation as per guidelines. Requesting all my friends, colleagues for self-monitoring. Contact tracing will be done by the Health Team. Hoping to see everyone soon.”

Dear All,Just to inform that I have tested positive for Covid 19 and initiating home isolation as per guidelines. Requesting all my friends, colleagues for self monitoring. Contact tracing will be done by Health Team. Hoping to see everyone soon.

— lavagarwal (@lavagarwal) August 14, 2020

The 48-year-old bureaucrat, who is in charge of the health division in the ministry had come into limelight for briefing the press every day during the COVID-19 lockdown period in the country.