MUMBAI: The second wave of the Covid2019 pandemic has hit India hard. The country is struggling in its attempt to curb the spread of the deadly virus, and despite vaccine roll-out, cases are on the rise with every passing day. Today, India became the second nation, after the US, to report one lakh new cases in a day.

This turn of events has precipitated a crisis in the television industry, with more and more actors testing positive every day. The lead actor of Apna Time Bhi Aayega, Megha Ray, is the latest TV celeb to test positive for the novel Coronavirus.

Balaji Telefilms’ producer Ekta Kapoor recently updated fans about Yeh Hai Chahatein actor Abrar Qazi.

“Actor Abrar Qazi who is an integral part of the TV show Yeh Hai Chahatein has tested positive for Covid2019. As soon as the symptoms were detected, he received medical help and quarantined himself. Immediately thereupon the entire cast and crew were isolated and tested. The BMC is informed and the sets will be fumigated and sterilised as per the protocol. Currently, the artist is receiving medical attention and under home quarantine. We are constantly in touch with the entire team as their health is our priority. We stand by our commitment to safety and will continue to ensure that all measures prescribed by the authorities are being adhered to,” the producer shared.

Actor Narayani Shashtri, who is currently seen on Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha, is also one of the actors who has come down with the virus.

Full House Media producer Sonali Jaffar informed that the entire cast and crew were immediately isolated and tested. The BMC was notified and the sets were to be fumigated and sterilised as per the protocol.

Several TV actors who also recently tested Covid2019 positive include Aditya Narayan and Shweta Agarwal, Mishkat Verma, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai's Kanchi Singh, Ankit Siwach, Namak Issk Ka actress Monalisa, Anupamaa actors Rupali Ganguly, Sudhanshu Pandey and Aashish Mehrotra, and Aap Ke Aa Jane Se actor Karan Jotwani. Other names include Molkki actors Toral Rasputra, Amar Upadhyay and Priyal Mahajan, Nikki Tamboli, Neil Bhatt, Manit Joura, Ariah Agarwal and Daljiet Kaur. TV producer Rajan Shahi also contracted the novel coronavirus.

This, when TV land was trying to get back on its feet after braving a challenging 2020 marked by production in limbo, viewer migration and scarce ad revenues. But in the face of these troubled times, the industry is determined to weather the situation together and survive.