1,023 COVID-19 cases in 17 states linked to Tablighi Jamaat: Govt
The Union health ministry on Saturday said 1,023 cases of coronavirus have been found so far that are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, held last month in the national capital. This constitutes about 30 per cent of all cases in the country, according to the ministry.
The Union health ministry on Saturday (April 4) said 1,023 cases of coronavirus have been found so far that are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, held last month in the national capital. This constitutes about 30 per cent of all cases in the country, according to the ministry.
In its daily evening briefing, the ministry said 601 positive cases and 12 deaths were reported from across the country since Friday. According to the ministry’s website, the official count now stands at 2,902 cases including 68 deaths.
“The condition of 58 COVID-19 patients is critical and they are in Kerala, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh,” said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, health ministry. He, however, said the rate of rise in such cases in India less than other countries.
Regarding the Jamaat, the health ministry official said rigorous contact tracing is going on in the 17 states that reported COVID-19 cases related to the event. Home ministry joint secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said nearly 22,000 Tablighi Jamaat members and their contacts quarantined so far.
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Stating that the health ministry is increasing its testing capacity progressively, Agarwal said, “There’s no need to panic but awareness is needed to fight battle against COVID-19.”
He said nine per cent of coronavirus patients are in the 0-20 years age category while 42 per cent belong to 21-40 category. “About 33 per cent cases pertain to patients between 41-60 years age and 17 per cent patients have crossed 60 years age,” said Agarwal.
(With inputs from agencies)
