24 people in Delhi test positive for COVID-19 after a mosque event, 7 die
New Delhi/IBNS: Twenty-four people have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) while seven died in the national capital of India following a mass gathering of Tableeghi Jamaat preachers at a religious event which was held at Alami Markaz Banglewali Masjid in Nizamuddin here, media reports said.
Over 300 people, who were present at the event, were earlier admitted to different hospitals across the city.
The gathering, which took place in mid-March, hosted visitors from Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan.
Taking swift action immediately after the incident came to light, the Delhi government- headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal- had ordered a First Information Report (FIR) against Maulana of Markaz, Nizamuddin though the Delhi Police falls under the central government ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Coronavirus: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal orders FIR in connection with Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin
— AAP In News (@AAPInNews) March 30, 2020
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal on Tuesday held a a high-level meeting over the issue. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain and other officials were present in the meeting.
Violating the self-isolation norms, there were about 2,000 staying in the shrine complex in south Delhi till Monday night.
A high-level meeting is underway at the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over the issues of #Coronavirus and Markaz building, Nizamuddin. Deputy CM Arvind Kejriwal, Health Minister Satyendar Jain and other officials are present at the meeting.
— AAP In News (@AAPInNews) March 31, 2020
What is more worrying is that the people who left Delhi travelled to several parts of India.
A preacher died last week after he returned to Kashmir. He had reportedly visited the Deoband seminary in Uttar Pradesh before returning to Kashmir.
Police are now carrying out contact-tracing to identify other virus-exposed persons in Delhi, Srinagar and Deoband.
The mosque has now been sealed and over 800 people have been moved out for quarantine.
Meanwhile, the vast country of 1.3 billion people is presently under a 21-day lockdown which was called by Prime Minister Modi a week ago to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
As of now, India has a total 1355 number of positive cases with deaths mounting up to 43.
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