Against the backdrop of Tablighi Jamaat issue, Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Wednesday asked state chief secretaries and director generals of police to complete the contact tracing process of Tablighi Jamaat workers on a war footing to avert massive outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
This assumes significance for north-eastern states too as several people from Assam and other states of the Northeast visited Nizamuddin Markaz also known as Banglewali Mosque in between March 10 to 20.
Many people who visited Markaz have been found COVID-19 positive in several states of the country whereas many of them have also died.
Also read: Covid-19 spreads tentacles in Assam, 16 positive cases confirmed
Assam has recorded 16 cases till Wednesday night.
Telengana has reported six COVID-19 deaths who visited Markaz recently.
As many as four other people from Assam who visited Markaz have been found coronavirus positive.
Officials said they have been admitted in hospitals in the national capital.
India registered as many as 1673 COVID-19 positive cases till Wednesday evening.
Cabinet Secretary Gauba who had a video conferencing with the chief secretaries and DGPs asked them to get sensitized about the intensive contact tracing of Tablighi Jamaat participants as this has increased the risk of containment efforts of COVID-19.
Also read: COVID-19 epicentre: Case filed against Maulana Saad, Tablighi Jamaat
It has been found that foreigners who had participated in the Tablighi Jamaat had violated visa conditions.
The states were asked to initiate action for violation of visa condition against the foreigners and the organizers of the event.
The states were also asked to implement the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana within the next week.
This will involve large cash transfer to beneficiaries.
It should be organized in a staggered manner to ensure social distancing.
The states were asked to ensure that intra-state movement of goods is allowed without any hindrance while maintaining social distance.