More than one-third of all COVID-19 cases in India linked with Nizamuddin Markaz: Govt

April 5: A startling revelation was made by Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India on Saturday during the routine media briefing in Delhi. Till then, the total COVID-19 cases in India was 2902 (now it has crossed 3000). Lav Agarwal said that out of the total 2902 positive cases of coronavirus in the country, 1023 are linked with Nizamuddin Markaz and have been found across 17 States and Union Territories.

#WATCH Live from Delhi – Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare briefing on #COVID19 situation. (4th April 2020) https://t.co/mw4OmHyyEF

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2020

As of Saturday, around 22,000 people including Tablighi Jamaat workers and their contacts have been quarantined as per the Ministry of Home Affairs. In Assam alone, out of 26 positive cases detected so far, 25 of them are related with Nizamuddin Markaz.

More than hundreds of people have tested positive for coronavirus and a nationwide manhunt is on for suspected cases after a large religious gathering at Delhi’s Nizamuddin that has emerged as a virus hotspot with links to several COVID-19 deaths. “Markaz Nizamuddin” is the Delhi headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat group. Ignoring all social distancing rules to avoid the deadly coronavirus, hundreds had been staying in the 100-year-old mosque complex, which has a six-floor dormitory, since March 8, who were later on forcefully evicted by the police.