With Over 50 Reported Cases Of Infections, Madrasas Emerge As Covid-19 Hotspots In Kanpur City

Nearly one-third of the total 170 cases of novel coronavrus in Kanpur city is concentrated in three madrasas with over 53 students mostly between 10 and 20 years have tested positive for Covid-19, Indian Express reported.

According to the district health authorities, the madrasa students were most likely infected by the members of Tablighi Jamaat, who had returned to the city after attending the Delhi Nizamuddin congregation in March.

While various hotspots have been identified in the district, a significant number of cases have emerged from three madrasas in the last 12 days.

Several very young children studying in these madrasas have tetsted positive for Covid-19. But most of them are asymptomatic and have shown good signs of recovery,

Coolie Bazaar madrasa has emerged as biggest inection cluster in Kanpur district.

The report quoted District Magistrate (Kanpur City) Brahm Dev Tiwari as saying “The biggest challenge came from the Coolie Bazar madrasa that has resulted in around 38 positive cases. Near the madrasa is one Hate Wali Masjid which was a hotspot as people from Tablighi connection had stayed there,”

Another madrasa in Machhariya area of Kanpur has least seven cases. It has now been sealed and disinfected.

Random testing of samples at Mahmudia Ashrafia madrasa revealed as many seven cases.

Last week, Jajmau area in Kanpur was declared as a ‘Red Zone’ after six students, who study in Ashrafabad Madrasa, were found COVID-19 positive.

Health workers screened 89 students in Madrasa and at least students were tested positive for Covid-19. All six students were immediately taken for quarantine. The area was sealed and administration began providing essential items to doorstep.

Accordin to District Magistrate (Kanpur City) Brahm Dev Tiwari “Even though we have multiple hotspots in the district, a large number of cases have come from three madrasas in the last 12 days… Among those infected are very young children who are studying in these madrasas. The good thing is that most are asymptomatic and are showing clear signs of recovery,”

With new cases are being reported from the city, the number of containment zones in the district has reached around 25 by Sunday with reporting of at least 20 new cases in last 24 hours.

The hotspots identified in Kanpur district includes Big Mosque in Baribal, Qaziani Mosque and Rahmania Mosque (Ghatampur), Ganga Apartment( Kidwai Nagar), Ashrafabad Madrasa (Jajmau), Fish Hat( Gwalatoli), Chandraganga Apartment (Kidwai Nagar), Premnagar (Chamanganj), Shaukat Ali Park (Bajaria), Mirpur Cantonment (Rail Bazaar), Roshan Nagar (Kalyanpur).