TN COVID crisis: 1,500 return from Delhi, 16 test +ve but some untraced

With the state reporting 67 coronavirus positive cases on Monday (March 30), there seems like more trouble is brewing since the Health authorities are unsure about the status of around 1,500 people from Tamil Nadu who recently attended a Tablighi Jamaat conference in Nizamuddin, Delhi.

Health authorities are also concerned about the spread of the virus in the state because of those people.

Out of the 17 samples tested from those involved, 16 turned out positive, all from Erode district. Explaining the sudden spike in cases in the area, The Hindu reported.

Even more worrying is the fact that authorities do not have a list of all the people who attended the Delhi event, making it hard for them to track 1500 people. Till now, 819 names have been identified and they are going to be tested.

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Speculations are rife that people from Tiruchi, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Erode, Pudukottai, and Nagapattinam were among those who attended the meeting.

With the help of police, extensive investigations are on the way. Those who tested positive have been admitted to IRT Medical College and hospital, Perundurai.

Requesting people who attended the meeting to come forward, officials said, “We have to monitor everyone in the group now, given the current situation and appeal to everyone who attended the conference to volunteer information. We want to prevent an explosion of cases.”