647 COVID-19 infection connected with Tabligh, misbehaviour with doctors concerning: Health Ministry official
Union Health Ministry on Friday said that 647 of the new infections found in past two days were linked to Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin. Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary of Health Ministry also expressed concern about the misbehaviour of some Tabligh members with doctors and nurses. Agarwal further said that coronavirus cases connected with Tabligh have been reported from 14 states across the country.
Agarwal was addressing press conference with Dr RR Gangakhedkar, Chief Epidemiologist of ICMR and and Punya Salila Srivastatava, Joint Secretary of Home Ministry.
Agarwal said that Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has expressed concern about misbehaviour with health staff across the country.
"He (Harsh Vardhan) has appealed to patients & their families not to create any obstacle in the path of doctors while they discharge their duties, said Agarwal.
There have been several reports of coronavirus positive members of Tabligh-e-Jamaat misbehaving with health staff of hospitals. Uttar Pradesh government has also threatened to invoke National Security Act against such individuals.
"Union Health Ministry has written to state governments and asked them to take strict action against those misbehaving with health staff and frontline workers," said Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry.
"From yesterday till today 336 additional cases of COVID-19 have come before us. Total confirmed cases are 2301 and 56 deaths have been reported," said Lav Agarwal, during the press conference. He added that 2 of the 56 deaths were reported yesterday.
Maharashtra has come to light as a major coronavirus hotspot.
"9,25,828 people have been surveyed in Maharashtra so far under cluster containment task and 2455 teams are working in the containment zones," said Agarwal.
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