23:16 March 31
4 new coronavirus positive cases reported in Visakhapatnam, connection with Nizamuddin Markaz
They had attended the Markaz gathering in Nizamuddin (Delhi). We are trying to trace the others who attended the gathering: Visakhapatnam Administration
Total number of positive cases in Andhra Pradesh rise to 44
23:10 March 31
17 foreign, two Indian participants of Nizamuddin discourse found in Bahraich: Official
As many as 17 foreign nationals from Indonesia and Thailand besides two Indian Muslim clerics, who attended an Islamic religious discourse at Nizamuddin early this month, have been rounded up here and have been quarantined, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Sixteen out of 190 persons who returned to Bahraich from foreign in March this year, however, are still untraceable, Bahraich Superintendent of Police Vipin Mishra said.
Out of the rounded up persons, the samples of two foreign nationals have been sent to Lucknow for testing, he said.
"Following the precautinary measures initiated after the outbreak of COVID-19,
the authorities found seven nationals of Thailand, and two clerics from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively, staying in a mosque in Kotwali police station area," said Mishra.
"They had come to Bahraich from Delhi on March 7. These people had informed the local intelligence unit about themselves," he added.
23:10 March 31
48 foreigners who had attended the Markaz gathering in Nizamuddin, have been located in five mosques of North-East District of Delhi.
Their information has been given by Police to the District Commissioner for further action: Delhi Police
22:41 March 31
15 attendees of Tablighi meet test positive in Telangana
Fifteen people, who attended the Tablighi Jamaat meeting in Delhi, and their contacts tested positive for coronavirus in Telangana on Monday, Health Minister Etela Rajender said.
With this, the number of Covid-19 positive cases in the state have gone up to 97. He said 77 people were undergoing treatment in various hospitals.
The state has so far reported six deaths. All of them had attended Delhi meeting at Tablighi Markaz in Nizamuddin from March 15 to 17.
Fourteen people were discharged from hospitals after treatment. Thirteen of them were discharged on Sunday.
21:34 March 31
MHA asks MEA to seek details of accommodation in India, return ticket, finance of Tablighi activists who apply for visa: Officials
21:34 March 31
No foreigner coming on tourist visa will be allowed to conduct Tablighi activities: Officials
21:31 March 31
Today, 15 people who attended the 2020 Markaz (in Nizamuddin, Delhi) & their relatives have been diagnosed coronavirus positive in Telangana. At present, 77 active positive cases are being treated in various hospitals of state: Telangana Public Health & Family Welfare Department
21:30 March 31
7 members of Shillong Markaz who attended Tablighi Jamaat meet in Delhi's Nizamuddin have not returned to Meghalaya. Out of these,5 are currently in Delhi & 2 are in Lucknow (UP).
Presence of these members in Delhi & UP has been conveyed to respective police officials: Meghalaya Police
21:29 March 31
8 foreign nationals found at Delhi's Bharat Nagar
Delhi Police: 8 foreign nationals were found at Delhi's Bharat Nagar, earlier today. On interrogation, we came to know that they had come from Markaz Nizamuddin and were staying here since 19th March. We have informed District Magistrate about it.
20:29 March 31
1130 out of 1500 return to Tamil Nadu
Out of 1500 members from Tamil Nadu who participated in the conference in Delhi (Markaz, Nizamuddin), 1130 returned to the state, rest stayed in Delhi. Of the 1130 who returned, we have identified 515 across several districts: Beela Rajesh, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary
Out of these people, who attended the conference in Delhi (Markaz, Nizamuddin), 50 have tested positive for #COVID19. Other than that 5 others have also tested positive today. Total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 124: Beela Rajesh, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary
19:53 March 31
57 persons from Tamil Nadu, who had visited Nizamuddin Markaz tested positive for coronavirus
19:40 March 31
36 people from Bhopal who attended gathering at Nizamuddin Markaz identified
Total 36 people have been identified from Bhopal who attended the gathering at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi. They have been quarantined. Samples have been collected for tests: Tarun Pithode, Collector Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
19:38 March 31
8 Kyrgyzstan nationals who visited Nizamuddin Markaz found at Delhi's Sangam Park
19:37 March 31
1339 Tablighi activities quarantined at Narela, Sultanpuri, Bakkarwala facilities and also at some hospitals including AllMS, Jhajjar: MHA
19:37 March 31
More than 200 cases registered and 3,763 people detained on Tuesday for violating government orders during coronavirus lockdown: Delhi Police
19:26 March 31
Case registered against Maulana Saad & others of Tableeghi Jamaat under Epidemic Disease Act 1897 & other sections of IPC for violation of government directions given to the management of Markaz of Basti Nizamuddin, regarding restrictions on gatherings: Delhi Police Commissioner
19:06 March 31
Bengal to test, quarantine those who attended Jamaat gathering
The West Bengal government was identifying those from the state who participated in the religious congregation organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi and would put them on 14-day quarantine, a senior official said on Tuesday.
19:05 March 31
State Home Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay announces those identified would be immediately tested for COVID-19
"All those from West Bengal who have participated in this event (Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi) are being identified and will be immediately tested for COVID-19 and put under mandatory 14-day quarantine," Bandipadhyay tweeted.
Delhi government authorities have evacuated Tablighi Jamaat's international headquarters, Nizamuddin Markaz, in southwest Delhi, where around 1,400 people were stuck in the wake of a nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On Monday night, around 100 suspected coronavirus cases were evacuated from the religious complex in buses. They have been kept in isolation in Narela area of Delhi. Those who were ill were admitted in various hospitals.
19:04 March 31
216 foreigners among 1,746 stayed in Nizamuddin Markaz
There were as many as 261 foreign nationals among 1,746 people lodged at the Tablighi Jamaat's Nizamuddin Markaz facility as on March 21, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 'Janata curfew' across India to contain COVID-19 spread.
Additionally, the Ministry said about 824 foreigners had been, as on March 21, doing Tabligh (Chilla) activities in various parts of the country.
The Home Ministry made the announcement after the headquarters of a religious sect in the Nizamuddin area emerged as one of the biggest coronavirus hotspot in India with 24 people testing positive and nearly 200 others showing symptoms. The authorities have begun evacuating the six-storey building of some over 1,000 others believed to have been exposed to the virus.
The building belongs to the Tablighi Jamaat, a Muslim sect that hosted this month its annual congregession with attendees coming in from several nations, particularly from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan before they spread out to other parts of the country such as Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh creating a web of close contacts that now threatens to create an explosion of cases in the country.
"As on March 21, there were about 1,746 persons staying in Hazrat Nizamuddin Markaz. Of these, 216 were foreigners and 1,530 were Indians," the Ministry said.
19:03 March 31
5 out of 6 persons from Puducherry who visited Nizamuddin Markaz under observation
Total 6 persons from Puducherry visited Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi, of which 5 persons have been kept under observation, they have been isolated. Further tests are being conducted: V Narayanasamy, Chief Minister of Puducherry.
19:03 March 31
MP CM orders tracing of 107 people who attended Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi
In the wake of the report that 107 people of Madhya Pradesh attended the religious Tablighi Jamaat's international headquarters Nizamuddin Markaz in southwest Delhi, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday directed the police officials to identify those people and keep them in quarantine centres.
During the day, the Chief Minister chaired a high level meeting with the state government officials and also spoke to the senior police officials asking them to identify the people of the state, particularly from Indore who attended the religious congregation in Nizamuddin West earlier this month.
Speaking to Indore range DIG, Chouhan said, "We have got the information that 107 people attended the programme at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi. Identify them and put them in the quarantine centre to stop the transmission of the Covid-19."
He also pointed out that several people from across the country attended that programme and out of which there are reports that over 200 people have been tested positive. "Even six people lost their lives in Telangana. Thus it is time to remain alert," he said.
19:00 March 31
One more person tested positive for coronavirus in Telangana
One out of the 11 persons who participated in the religious gathering at Nizamuddin Markaz has been tested positive for coronavirus today.
District Medical Officer Sudhakar Lal has informed that all seven were in an isolation ward where they were tested for the virus.
With respect to the Nizamuddin area, we all need to understand and appreciate that this is not the time to do fault finding. What is important for us is to take action as per our containment process in whatever areas we find a case: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry
18:59 March 31
24 out of 97 cases in Delhi from Nizamuddin Markaz: CM
Out of the 97 cases in Delhi, 24 cases are from Markaz, Nizamuddin.
41 have travel history to foreign countries and 22 are family members of the foreign travelers. 10 cases yet to be ascertained. No local community transmission has been reported so far.
"Delhi Govt wrote to Lieutenant Governor for registration of FIR in this case, I have full hope he will give orders soon. If any negligence is found on part of any officers then action will be taken against them also," said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Markaz, Nizamuddin case.
18:59 March 31
Six foreign nationals found in Lucknow Markaz being tested for coronavirus
Six foreign tourists were found at Aminabad Markaz in Lucknow after a raid was conducted at the premises here on Tuesday in view of the coronavirus spread, officials said.
The raid was led by District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash and Police Commissioner Sujit Kumar Pandey. The six foreign nationals had come to India as tourists and were stranded following the countrywide lockdown.
Officials said that the tourists are being tested for coronavirus.
Meanwhile, search is also on for the 157 people of the State, who had participated in Tablighi Jamaat event at Markaz, Nizamuddin, in Delhi.
According to sources in the department, around 20 people from Uttar Pradesh have not returned to the State after the event and are still in the national capital.
18:58 March 31
17 people who attended the religious gathering at Tablighi Jamaat still at quarantine in Delhi
Total 17 people; Chamba(14), Sirmaur (2)&Kullu (1), who had gone for Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin in Delhi, have not returned so far. They are in Delhi in quarantine. This has been confirmed by SPs of Chamba, Sirmaur & Kullu Police Districts: Himachal Pradesh Police.
18:57 March 31
Director, Health & Family Welfare, Andhra Pradesh: 17 new COVID-19 positive cases detected since 9 PM last night, taking the total positive cases in the state to 40. Most of these people are those who had attended religious meeting in Delhi or are the contacts of those who attended.
Of the 17 people who tested positive, 2 are from Anantapur district, 8 are from Prakasam district, 5 from Guntur district, 1 from Krishna district & 1 from East Godavari district.
18:57 March 31
"24 people who were present at the Markaz building, Nizamuddin have tested positive for Coronavirus, so far," Satyendar Jain, Delhi Health Minister
12:57 March 31
9 out of the 10 people who tested positive for Coronavirus in Andaman & Nicobar, had attended Tablighi Jamaat event at Markaz, Nizamuddin in Delhi. Wife of one of these people later tested positive.
12:41 March 31
Uttar Pradesh Police:Search for 157 people of the state, who had participated in Tablighi Jamaat event at Markaz, Nizamuddin in Delhi is being done.
12:38 March 31
Informed about people stuck due to lockdown, says markaz
At the centre of the storm after 24 coronavirus positive cases have been found in Tablighi Jamaat, the markaz Nizamuddin where 1500 people were stuck, has issued a statement that they informed the officials and sought permission to evacuate them but were denied.
The markaz has even given proof of communication between police and concerned authorities and has slammed media for misreporting.
The markaz in a statement said, "When Hon'ble Prime Minister announced the "Janata Curfew" to be observed on March 22, the ongoing program at the centre was discontinued immediately."
While all these were happening, on March 24, 2020, a notice was issued by SHO, P.S.A
Hazrat Nizamuddin, seeking closure of Markaz premises. It was responded the same day,
stating that the compliance of the directions regarding closure of the Markaz is already underway as the arrangements for around 1000 visitors belonging to different states and nationalities are being provisioned wherein the concerned SDM had been requested to issue vehicle passes.
"It is relevant to indicate here that lists of 17 vehicles with registration numbers along with the names of the drivers plus their license details were submitted to the concerned SDM so that the stranded visitors/guests could be ferried towards their respective destinations. The requisite permission is still awaited," said the statement.
On March 25, the Tehsildaar along with medical team visited the Markaz, full
cooperation was provided for their inspection as well as preparation of list of visitors, it further said.
The markaz in a statement said that on March 26, 2020, the SDM visited the Markaz and after ward meeting was organised with Ld DM and again sought permission for the vehicles arranged by us and on March 27, six persons were taken for medical check-up.
On March 28, the SDM and WHO team visited the Markaz and 33 persons were taken for medical check-up to Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital.
"Surprisingly, on the same day another notice was issued, this time by the Office of ACP, Lajpat Nagar, reiterating the prohibitory orders and warning of legal action, being totally oblivious of the above deliberate steps that were already taken by the Markaz administration in consultation with the authorities. However, the same was replied in detail vide letter dated 29th March 2020," said the statement.
But due to sudden cancellation of railways across the country on March 21, a large group of visitors got stuck in the premises.
On March 22, "Janta Curfew" was observed and visitors were advised not to venture out until 9 p.m. as desired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister. In the meantime, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi announced a week-long lockdown of Delhi beginning 6 a.m. on the following day i.e. March 23 till March 31, thereby further diminishing the chances of their journey back home.
Suddenly, on the evening of March 23, a nationwide lockdown was announced by the Hon'ble Prime Minister with clear message for the people to stay-put wherever they are.
Under such compelling circumstances, Markaz Nizamuddin was left with no option but to accommodate the stranded visitors with prescribed medical precautions.
Meanwhile, the Markaz administration was continuously putting its efforts with the help of local authorities not only for the smooth movement but also for their stay-put arrangements, the statement said.
Markaz Nizamuddin has never violated any provision of law, and always tried to act with compassion and reason towards the visitors who came to Delhi from different states and nations. It did not even let them violate the medical guidelines by thronging ISBTs or roaming on streets, the statement added.
12:37 March 31
Cases of COVID-19 attendees rise in Tamil Nadu
Even as the Tamil Nadu government is checking out the Coronavirus infection symptoms in the those persons who had attended the Islamic conference held in Delhi, five persons who had travelled to the national capital have tested positive for the virus.
According to state Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, seven new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state taking the total to 74.
Out of the seven male patients, five (three form Villupuram, two from Madurai) of them had travel history to Delhi.
Of the remaining two, one person is a co-worker of a COVID-19 patient and the other had travelled to Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.
On Monday, the state reported a sudden spike in Coronavirus infected cases with 17 persons testing positive.
Government officials said about 1,500 persons had attended the conference from Tamil Nadu and the virus infection on the members of this group resulted in the spike.
The health department officials statewide are screening about 1,000 persons who have returned after attending the conference.
A health department official said the screening tests done in the state have found some asymptomatic persons which is a worrisome factor.
The government has appealed to the family members of those who had attended the conference to home quarantine themselves and register with the nearest government hospital.
A Muslim religious organisation Tablighi Jamaat had organised a conference in Delhi's Nizamuddin area this month.
Those who had participated in the conference had returned before the nationwide lockdown was announced.
According to officials, a total of 16 persons who had attended the conference in Delhi have tested positive for Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu.
A 54-year-old person in Madurai tested positive for Coronavirus and later he died. It was learnt that he was in contact with two Thai nationals who had also attended the Delhi conference.
The two Thai nationals also tested positive for Coronavirus and have been admitted to hospital in Erode.
A doctor who had treated the COVID-19 patients in Erode, her 10 month old baby and two others in her household tested positive for virus and have been admitted to hospital.
In Erode containment steps have been taken up.
With people who had attended the conference and those who were in contact with them testing positive for Coronavirus infection, the government has started screening others who had attended the conference and those who were in contact with them in various districts.
Their blood samples are being collected for testing.
According to government officials, about 1.08 lakh homes in 12 districts where Coronavirus infections has been reported have been screened
12:14 March 31
24 test positive for corona, 1,033 evacuated
Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said on Tuesday that 24 people have been found corona positive in the Nizamuddin markaz that has turned into ground zero of the new cases spiralling out of control following an ijtima in mid-March.
Giving details of the case reported in Nizamuddin, Jain said that the government is not certain of the number but it is estimated that 1,500-1,700 people had assembled at the Markaz building.
The Delhi Health Minister said that 1,033 people have been evacuated so far of which 334 have been sent to hospital and 700 have been sent to the quarantine centre. Jain said that 24 cases have been found to be positive for coronavirus.
The Markaz, also known as Banglewali Masjid, is a six-storey building complex that can house up to 2,000 people. It shares its wall with the Nizamuddin police station and is adjacent to the famous shrine of Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya. Starting March 13 there was meeting held here with peopel from Kashmir to Andaman islands attending it, besides Saudis, Thais, Indonesians, that has seen already six alone die in Telangan after their return.
A high level meeting was held at the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the situation pertaining to the corona spread in the markaz building, 24 hours after the news of the Tablighi spread like wildfire.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendra Jain and other officials were present in the meeting.
According to Delhi Police sources, with the assistance of the Health Department around 800 people have been shifted from the Markaz building in Nizaumuddin to hospitals. Around 300 people are yet to be evacuated.
Intense sanitization is underway in the Nizamuddin basti area. The Jawaharlal Nehru stadium is also being prepared as a contingency plan for creating capacity for isolation.
The Nizamuddin dargah it is clarified has no connection with the Tableghi Jamat Markaz of Nizamuddin. The dargah had stopped gatherings in line with advisories during second week of March. The Markaz is half a kilometre away from the dargah.
12:12 March 31
14 returnees from Delhi meeting test COVID-19 positive in Andhra
In a sudden spike in number of COVID-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh, 17 persons were tested positive since Monday night. Majority of them had attended Tablighi Jamaat meeting in Delhi, officials said on Tuesday.
With this the number of total cases in the state rose to 40.
According to medical bulletin by the health department, 14 of the 17 new positive cases had either attended the meeting at Delhi or the contacts of those who attended the meet. Almost all of them are from Prakasam and Guntur districts.
A returnee from Madina (Saudi Arabia) and two contacts of a Karnataka man who had returned from Mecca also tested positive.
More details of these patients are currently being traced and will be updated soon, it said.
11:51 March 31
Home Ministry has found violation of visa rules by foreigners who attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin, Delhi
As per policy guidelines of Indian Visa issued by GoI, preaching religious ideologies, making speeches in religious places, distribution of audio-visual display/ pamphlets pertaining to religious ideologies is not allowed. All foreigners who attended may be barred.
11:45 March 31
Yogi cuts short visit, Muslim leaders seek probe
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has cut short his programme after visiting Ghaziabad and is returning to Lucknow to hold a high-level meeting with officials in view of the Tablighi Jamaat conference that has spurred the COVID-19 cases.
According to Additional Chief Secretary Home Avanish Awasthi, the Chief Minister will review the quarantine measures being taken to isolate those who attended the Jamaat meeting earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Sunni cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali in a video message, said that Tablighi Jamaat was a religious organisation, but it should have adhered to the safety protocols announced by the government. He said that investigations should be held in the incident to fix responsibility in the matter.
He said that the organisation did not have any political affiliations.
Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi said that some fundamentalist Muslims were trying to undermine Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to control Coronavirus.
He said that if any deaths took place due to this, action should be taken against those responsible.
11:39 March 31
Several COVID-19 positive cases across India linked to Nizamuddin gathering
New Delhi:A religious congregation of 2000 people at a mosque in Delhi's Nizamuddin area which has thrown up several corona positive cases is a ticking time bomb as six of the persons who returned to Telangana have died from the virus and positive cases are emerging from at least five regions including Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
The Telangana Chief Minister's Office said in a tweet, "Six people from Telangana who attended a religious congregation at Markaz in Nizamuddin area of New Delhi from March 13-15 succumbed after they contracted coronavirus. Two died in Gandhi Hospital while one each died in Apollo Hospital, Global Hospital, Nizamabad and Gadwal."
The state has intensified its efforts to locate all those who returned from the event and the contact trail.
The suspected outbreak was discovered earlier today in Delhi as it emerged that several hid their travel history to foreign countries and a large congregation was held on March 13-15 at a markaz in Nizamuddin. The area was sealed today and hundreds of those present were whisked away to hospitals.
The Jawaharlal Nehru stadium which otherwise holds sporting events is being prepared for a possible large size quarantine centre in case there is a huge outbreak of the virus. Reports are emerging that COVID-19 cases linked to this gathering are being across the country in J&K, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar and Telangana.
As many as 1,400 people continued to stay at the Tabligh-e-Jamaat's 'Markaz' in Delhi's Nizamuddin West even after the event.
The Telangana Chief Medical Officer confirmed that six people who attended this congregation have died in Telangana after testing positive for coronavirus. A cleric who was there had died after testing positive for coronavirus in Srinagar last week.
More than 2,000 delegates, including from Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan, attended the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat - a Muslim religious organisation - from March 13 to 15.
So now, after the congregation dispersed, those who had gathered have gone in different directions and six have died in Telangana.
This is so symptomatic of the virus spread where even once infected person can pass it onto hundreds of others.
Jammu and Kashmir where many of these people returned is already on alert. The district administration in all ten districts have fanned out teams to trace those who might not have disclosed their travel history or contact history with Tabligi Jamaat.
Another worrying strand that has emerged is that the list of those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin from Jammu and Kashmir is huge. Clearly, many of them are not in quarantine yet and the administration and police are making efforts to identity, trace and isolate.It is learnt that the government has prepared a 50 page list of people from J&K who attended the congregation or came in contact with those.
Efforts are being made to identify these people and isolate them.District magistrates in different districts of Kashmir have issued a strong warning today evening to those who have entered the Valley after March 1 and have not so far revealed their travel history to the authorities.
The order issued today evening by the various district magistrates said all those who entered the Valley after March 1 with travel history abroad, outside the Valley or association with members of the Tabligi group are given the last chance to report to the authorities within two days failing which they could face imprisonment under the provisions of the disaster management act, 2005.