COVID-19 Patient Linked To Tablighi Jamaat Event Spits On Nurse In Tamil Nadu; Enraged Hospital Staff Files Case

A coronavirus patient linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation that happened in New Delhi last month, reportedly, spat on a nurse in the isolation ward of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli, India Today reported on Sunday (12 April).

The person was among a bunch of 36 patients who had tested positive in the state after returning from the event in Delhi’s Nizamuddin Aalami Markaz.

The person in question also, allegedly on Saturday took off his mask and threw it at the nurse. This act by him had angered the hospital staff and other patients.

“It was a serious crime under the present conditions with so many restrictions in force to prevent the spread of coronavirus,” the police said, while also adding, “Ever since his admission in the ward, he has not been cooperating with the medical staff.”

According to the report, based on a complaint by the hospital officials a case has been registered against the person under Indian Penal Code (IPC)’s Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease) and 271 (Disobedience to quarantine rule).

Tamil Nadu has been the third most-affected state in India after Maharashtra and Delhi with 1,075 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases and 11 casualties. Of all the cases in the state, over 90 per cent of them are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat gathering of Delhi.

Tiruchirapalli, specifically, has 43 cases so far.