Two Die in Tamil Nadu After Returning From Tablighi Jamaat’s Delhi Congregation; 74 More Test Positive

Two persons died in Tamil Nadu of Coronavirus (Covid-19), while 74 more tested positive for the pandemic virus today (4 April) as the State continued to be one of the worst-hit by the fallout of the religious congregation organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area last month.

Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Beela Rajesh told media at the daily briefing that 73 of the 74 Coronavirus cases today were traced to the Tablighi Jamaat’s congregation at the Alami Markaz Banglewali Masjid, the global headquarters of the organisation.

Of the two persons who died today, one was from Tamil Nadu’s Villipuram district while the other was from Theni district.

Tamil Nadu has witnessed a sharp rise in the number of Covid-19 cases after those who attended the Nizamuddin event were screened by the health authorities.

In the last five days, the numbers of Coronavirus cases have increased by 57, 110, 75, 102, and 74 respectively. Of the 485 Covid-19 positive cases in Tamil Nadu, 437 are those who attended the Banglewali Markaz congregation.

Tamil Nadu, where over 3,400 persons have been affected by the pandemic virus, now accounts for the second-most Coronavirus cases in India. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Kerala account for over 50 per cent of the total Covid-19 cases in the country.

Over 90 per cent of Coronavirus cases are ones with contact to the Banglewali Markaz congregation in Tamil Nadu. Till now, eight persons have recovered.

Chennai has reported the most number of Coronavirus cases - 88- followed by Dindigul (33 cases) and Tirunelveli (37). Cases in Dindigul and Tirunelveli are high as many in these districts had contracted Covid-19 after attending the congregation.

Tamil Nadu has traced some 1,130 of the nearly 1500 who attended the Tablighi congregation.

With the latest development, 31 of the 38 districts have reported Covid-19 positive cases. Districts of a few more cases are yet to be ascertained.

Nearly 90,00 persons have been placed under home quarantine conditions, Rajesh said. Over 2.15 lakh persons have been screened for coronavirus.

Tablighi Jamaat preachers from Indonesia and Thailand touring the State have left some people infected in Erode, Madurai and Salem districts besides the infection cases from the Banglewali Markaz congregation.

The lone person who had succumbed to Coronavirus earlier in Tamil Nadu was infected by a group of Thailand Tablighi preachers at a meeting in Madurai Anna Nagar mosque. The wife and kids of the deceased person have also tested positive.

Two Thailand and four Indonesians visiting Tablighi Jamaat preachers have also tested positive for Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, videos doing rounds on WhatsApp showed a group of over 300 persons congregating at a mosque in Tenkasi in south Tamil Nadu.