Actor-politician Vijayakanth's wife Premalatha Vijayakanth has been admitted to the MIOT Hospital on Monday at Manapakkam in Chennai after testing positive for the novel coronavirus. Premalatha, who is serving as the Treasurer of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), is said to have contracted COVID-19 while taking care of Vijayakanth and is currently undergoing treatment.

Vijayakanth, who had shown mild coronavirus symptoms during a regular check-up on September 22, had been admitted to the MIOT Hospital, and a press release was issued on behalf of the DMDK to their followers and party cadres. In the statement, it further stated that the veteran actor-politician had been treated for the infection and was in good health, with reports now stating he is expected to return home soon upon the completion of his treatment. The official press release translated reads as follows: "'Captain' Vijayakanth visits the MIOT Hospital in Chennai once in every six months for his regular health checkup. During his recent health checkup, mild symptoms of coronavirus were detected in 'Captain' Vijayakanth. He was immediately given treatment and has now completely recovered."

'Captain', as he is lovingly called by his fans, Vijayakanth was one of the first major personalities in Tamil Nadu to step to the front in extending support to the government to combat the COVID-19 outbreak in March earlier this year. He had given authorization for the use of his Andal Alagar Engineering College including his party office in Koyambedu in Chennai as hospitals and COVID care centres in order to treat patients who had tested positive for coronavirus. Furthermore, he also asked his party cadre and workers to lend a helping hand to the government's efforts and supply masks, gloves, and sanitisers to health workers, policemen and corporation staff. 

During the early stages of the pandemic, Vijayakanth had also announced that families of COVID-19 victims can use a portion of his Andal Alagar Engineering College to bury their loved ones after there was an uproar over the burial of the deceased due to the disease. His efforts and humanitarian gestures went on to earn him praise from fans, followers and several film personalities and political leaders among whom Telugu actor turned politician Pawan Kalyan tweeted saying, "An amazing and Noble gesture by Thiru @Vijayakant ,DMDK Leader and Superstar for offering a part of his college land for 'Corona victims' , where they  have been denied burial in their own community burial grounds.