100 More In Tamil Nadu Coronavirus Positive After Attending Nizamuddin Tablighi Jamaat Congregation

One hundred and two more persons tested positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19) today (3 April), taking the total number of those affected by the pandemic virus in Tamil Nadu to 411.

One hundred of these have been traced to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at the Nizamuddin Banglewali Markaz congregation held in Delhi during mid-March.

Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said that 364 of the 411 cases were related to the Banglewali Markaz congregation - Aalami Mashwara.

The latest development saw Tamil Nadu earn the dubious distinction of regaining its second position among the States that have reported Covid-19 cases in the country.

Till now, over 2,800 Coronavirus cases have been reported in the country with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh accounting for about 1,700.

Tamil Nadu has seen a huge spike in the Covid-19 cases from a meagre 45 within two days. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Dr C Vijayabhaskar tweeted that the results of 484 swab samples sent for testing are awaited.

The Nizamuddin congregation now accounts for nearly 89 per cent of the Coronavirus cases in Tamil Nadu. One person has succumbed to the pandemic virus, while seven have recovered.

Chennai has reported the most number of Coronavirus cases - 49- followed by Coimbatore (33 cases) and Tirunelveli (33). Coimbatore and Tirunelveli cases are higher as many in those districts had contracted Covid-19 after attending the Tablighi Jamaat congregation.

Tamil Nadu has traced some 1,130 of the nearly 1500 who attended the Tablighi congregation. Rajesh said the number of those who had turned up for screening the virus has gone up marginally in the last 24 hours without providing further details.

With the latest positive cases, 28 of the 38 districts have reported Covid-19 positive cases. The districts of quite a few more cases are yet to be identified.

Nearly 86,500 persons have been placed under home quarantine conditions, Rajesh said. Over 2.10 lakh persons have been screened for the pandemic virus.

Tablighi Jamaat preachers from Indonesia and Thailand touring the State have left some people infected in Erode, Madurai and Salem districts besides the infection cases from the Banglewali Markaz congregation.

The lone person who succumbed to Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu was infected by a group of Thailand Tablighi preachers at a meeting in Madurai Anna Nagar mosque. The wife and kids of the deceased person have also tested Covid-19 positive.

Two Thailand and four Indonesian visiting Tablighi Jamaat preachers have tested positive for Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu officials are facing an uphill task of getting those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation to undergo screening as some of them have switched off their phones.

Some of them are resisting but the police are acting tough with them as the Coronavirus positive cases are on the rise.