UP hospital denies entry to Muslims without COVID-19 test, booked

A case was filed against a private hospital in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday (April 19) after it said Muslim patients and their attendants would only be admitted if they tested negative for the COVID-19 virus in an advertisement.

The Valentis Cancer Hospital’s ad that appeared in a local newspaper, also accused the Hindu and Jain communities stating that patients of these religions are “misers” and should contribute to the PM-CARES relief fund.

According to a report in NDTV, the privately-run cancer hospital had issued a clarification for the same after facing backlash.

Related news: UP hospitals allege state agencies supplying ‘substandard’ PPE kits

The hospital’s advertisement comes in the backdrop of the religious congregation hosted by Tablighi Jamaat at Delhi’s Nizamuddin area last month, giving rise to the biggest cluster of cases in the country.

In its daily press briefing the ministry said that around 60 per cent of coronavirus cases in UP (or around 590) were connected to the Tablighi Jamaat.

The owner was accused of “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.”

Uttar Pradesh had earlier identified over 150 hotspots out of which about 70 cases and two deaths were reported from Meerut.