A total of 1,548 people have been evacuated from the Markaz Tablighi Jamath at Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi, which has emerged as a hotspot for spread of the coronavirus, with 24 of them turning out to be positive for the viral infection.
Of those evacuated from the religious centre over the last couple of days, besides the 24 positive cases, there are 441 others who are symptomatic for COVID-19 and have been admitted in hospitals. With results of tests conducted on them awaited, over the next two to three days, many more coronavirus-positive cases are expected to be reported in the capital.
1,107 people evacuated from the Jamath have been put up at quarantine facilities.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the capital is primarily due to the cases that have emerged from the Jamath, and hence it does not reflect the beginning of a community transmission of the disease.
“We have conducted an analysis of the 97 cases reported in Delhi so far to find out if the disease is spreading. Of these, 24 are from the Markaz alone. There are 41 cases of people who have returned from abroad, and 22 other cases are their relatives. Details of ten other cases are being collected,” he said.
Kejriwal said the analysis showed that as of now, the local transmission of the disease in Delhi is under control and community transmission has not started.
The chief minister hit out at the organisers of the religious congregation, which resulted in over 2,000 people from both within the country and outside gathering there, saying it was “highly responsible” and “totally wrong”. He has written to Lt Governor Anil Baijal that an FIR be registered in the case. He added that if any officer was found lacking in his duty in the matter, he or she would not be spared.
“On March 12 and 13, a large number of people from within the country and outside gathered at the Markaz for a religious function. Many went back and a large number of people stayed back. At a time when the disease has gripped the entire world, it was highly irresponsible to gather so many people in one place,” Kejriwal said.
“Navratras are currently on. But people are not going to temples. Gurudwaras are closed. People are not gathering at mosques. Vatican City is empty. It is completely wrong to have a gathering at a time like this...I appeal to all religious leaders. Please do not allow gatherings,” he said.
He said he shuddered to think how many more people have been infected by the participants at the congregation who later went to different parts of the country.
The Delhi government has described the congregation at the Markaz as a criminal act that was carried out in violation of prohibitory orders that were already in place in the national capital banning large gatherings in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
It has been pointed out that the Delhi government had on March 13, exercising powers conferred by the Delhi Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19, Regulations, 2020 under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, prohibited all sports gatherings, including IPL matches, as well as conferences and seminars beyond 200 people.
