Northeast
Covid-19: Assam govt. asks Nizamuddin event attendees to report immediately
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, March 31 (EMN): Alarmed by reports of several people, who attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi recently, being tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), Assam government has made an appeal to the citizens of the state who took part in the event to immediately report to the government hospital or call its helpline number 104.
The Delhi Police on Tuesday identified 1,830 persons from various states, including 216 from Assam who had attended the event. Several coronavirus cases reported in states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andaman Islands, Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh have been linked to the event. All the six deaths reported in Telangana on Monday were said to have attended the event.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain has said that 24 people have been found corona positive in Hazrat Nizamuddin and estimated 1,500-1,700 people had assembled for the Tablighi Jamaat programme held between March 13 and the 15th, hinting at a possible mass transmission of the disease if concrete preventive measures are not taken.
Considering the danger posed by the new development, Assam Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday took to social media, requesting those who attended the event to immediately report to the health officials to contain a possible outbreak of the disease in the state.
“Urgent Request. If there is anyone from Assam who attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi, please IMMEDIATELY report voluntarily to the nearest government hospital or by calling Helpline no # 104,” Sarma tweeted.
Sarma also updated in a series of tweets that hundreds of people from Assam were around the venue where the religious event was held.
Assam Govt is now in possession of a list of 299 persons who were present in and around the hotspot near Nizamuddin Dargah. We've alerted dist admins to find out if these people have returned to Assam, and strict instructions issued to quarantine them if they are in the state
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 31, 2020
#NizamuddinUpdate ~ We have received another list of 157 persons from Assam who were near hotspot of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Dargarh. We are acting swiftly and in best possible manner to quarantine all of them, as and when they reach Assam or those who may have reached.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 31, 2020
Sarma went on to write that an urgent video conference was held with all DCs and SPs of the state and advised them to take swift and strict measures for all those who returned from the hotspot at Nizamuddin Markaz of Tablighi Jamaat. “All of them shall be quarantined by evening,” he added.
Assam has not recorded any Covid-19 positive case so far.