Amid complaints of mass violations of Covid-19 curbs at weddings and parties, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered restriction of 100 people in indoor and 250 in outdoor gatherings, with extension of night curfew in all cities and towns till January 1. He also directed Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta to strictly enforce the restrictions at marriage palaces and other places, with penalties to be imposed on the hosts in case of any deviance. Taking cognisance of the high case fatality rate in the state, he also extended curfew restrictions (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) till January 1. <div type="twitter" handle="ANI" handlename="ANI" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1497864299/ani_mic_logo_normal.jpg" favoritecount="212" retweetcount="10" status="Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh orders extension of night curfew &amp; curbs on number of people at gatherings till J… https://t.co/VrumqIXsUN" createdat="1607684928000" id="1337353636599382018"></div> Chairing a high-level review meeting, the Chief Minister also ordered an end to home quarantine for those above the age of 70 with co-morbidities, unless adequate medical facilities can be made available at home. Health Secretary Hussan Lal pointed out during the virtual meeting that a large number of coronavirus deaths were also being reported from home isolation cases. To further check fatality, the Chief Minister also ordered a thorough check of all private hospitals to ensure that only those with adequate Level III infrastructure and manpower be allowed to admit Covid-19 patients. Hospitals lacking such facilities should refer patients to other hospitals, he said. Though the declining positivity trend in Punjab over the past three weeks was welcome, the fatality rate remained a matter of concern, said Amarinder Singh, directing the DGP to ensure strict compliance to safety protocols, including wearing of masks and social distancing. He also asked the Health Department to maintain the 30,000 per day RT-PCR sampling and testing limit, with more smart and targeted sampling to include potential super spreaders. The Chief Minister also asked the Health Department to monitor the health of the farmers who are returning from Delhi in view of the risk to them due to the high case load there. The Health Secretary said so far close to 35 lakh samples had been tested in the state, of which 1.5 lakh were found positive. Though the second wave in Punjab had so far been mild, the health authorities were fully geared to tackle any eventuality, he said. He noted that 87 per cent of the deaths had been over the age of 45, with about 50 per cent of the deaths taking place at private tertiary care centres.

Punjab extends night curfew till December 31

Amid declining Covid cases and deaths, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday ordered a slew of relaxations, including lifting of night curfew and an end to the Sunday lockdown, while directing the DGP to strictly enforce wearing of masks and other safety norms. Among the relaxations announced are increasing the limit for marriage functions and funerals to 100 in the state, in line with the Centre's guidelines, as well as easing the limit of three persons in a car and 50 per cent capacity in buses, subject to the condition of windows being open. Amarinder Singh, however, has directed DGP Dinkar Gupta to ensure strict adherence to Covid protocols, with immediate action against those violating the mandatory masks condition. There should be no laxity, especially in view of the ongoing paddy procurement operations and the forthcoming festival season, he said. On the issue of reopening of schools and educational institutions, which the Centre had left to the states to decide post-October 15 under Unlock 5.0, the final decision will be announced after due deliberations between the Home Secretary and the Education Department, he said. During a virtual meeting to review the Covid situation in the state, the Chief Minister took note of the decline in the rising cases and deaths trend and said the restrictions imposed earlier by the state government had helped. However, he expressed concern over the increase in cases in rural areas, even though numbers in cities/towns were going down. Amarinder Singh also directed Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan to look into arranging for provision of vitamins etc to poor Covid patients discharged from hospitals. In a brief presentation earlier, the state's expert health committee head, K.K. Talwar, said the positivity rate in the state had come down from 10.85 per cent on September 14 to 5.12 per cent on September 28. The number of deaths and patients on ventilators had also shown a decline during this period, he said. The state's Covid death rate currently stands at 2.9 per cent, with deaths per million at 112.5. The recovery rate has gone up to 82.1 per cent. Health Minister Balbir Sidhu underlined the need for motivation of doctors and other medical staff to keep the situation under control. <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/hathras-borders-sealed-and-section-144-imposed/articleshow/78423106.cms">Hathras victim was not raped claims UP Police citing forensic report</a>

Punjab government lifts night curfew and ends Sunday lockdown as coronavirus cases dip

<ul><li>Punjab reported 127 new coronvirus cases on June 15. </li><li>The total number of positive infections now stand at 3,267 in the state, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.</li><li>Punjab government has imposed stricter guidelines for weekends and public holidays, adding that only those with e-passes will be allowed to move out.</li></ul>On June 15, Punjab reported 127 new COVID cases, taking the total number of infections in the state to 3,267, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. While four people died due to <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> in Amritsar. The recent cases have been reported in Ludhiana, Jaladhar and Amritsar. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; box-shadow: none; width: 468pt; font-family: Merriweather; table-layout: fixed; padding-bottom: 10px !important; background-image: inherit !important; background-position: inherit !important; background-size: inherit !important; background-repeat: inherit !important; background-attachment: inherit !important; background-origin: inherit !important; background-clip: inherit !important;"><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><col /><col /><col /><col /><tbody><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">State </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Total cases </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Cured</td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Deaths </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Punjab </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">3,267 </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">2,443</td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">71 </td></tr></tbody></table> Given the sudden spike in the positive cases, the Punjab government imposed stricter guidelines in the state on weekends and public holidays, adding that only those with e-passes will be allowed to move out. Moreover, the people coming from the national capital will have to provide testing certification before entering the state, said the state Chief Minister Amrinder Singh. On June 10, Singh allowed the religious places including gurudwara in the state to not just open but also restart the distribution of prasad and langar among people. “It has now been decided to allow community kitchens (langar) and serving of prasad at religious places, subject to the condition that physical distancing norms and all COVID hygiene precautions while preparing and distributing food shall be strictly followed," Mint reported citing the official announcement said. Given the surge in the coronavirus cases in the state, Punjab has aggressively ramped up the testing capacity. According to the state Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, over 1 lakh samples have been tested so far and the state is now testing 3,259 per million. That is equivalent to 4,500 tests per day and higher than the country's average at 3,046. “Punjab has completed testing of over 1,00,000 samples for COVID-19,” Indian Express reported citing the health minister. Meanwhile, the state has recorded the highest COVID-19 recovery rate in the country — at 91%. In addition, the critical mortality rate in the state is also the lowest at 1.3%. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total count of those cured reached to 2,000. On May 30, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh extended the lockdown till June 30 . However, the state government has eased the lockdown norms, in line with the guidelines by the central government. As per the state orders, the local shops including liquor and barber shops, beauty parlours and spa will be open in the non-containment zones, starting today. While the defined guidelines for hotels, hospitality services, shopping malls, places of worship, and restaurants will be announced soon. However, Singh strictly said that the residents will have to follow the COVID safety protocols including social distancing and wearing of masks. He said that the government will ensure that the masks are supplied as a part of the ration kits for those who can't afford to buy them. The state government has collected over ₹1 crore as fine so far - from people who were not wearing masks. According to Anurag Agarwal, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare, of the 40 deaths, most of the senior citizens had serious illness like kidney diseases, HIV and high blood pressure, IANS reported. However, the pandemic is showing no signs of dying down. The total number of infections rose to 2,233 in Punjab, as on June 1. As many as 25 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported on Tuesday (May 26). According to IANS, Amritsar has reported the maximum number of COVID-19 cases in the state, followed by Jalandhar and Ludhiana. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-haryana-news-and-updates/articleshow/74771116.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Coronavirus cases in Haryana news and updates</a>

Punjab coronavirus cases spike to 3,267 — 127 new cases, 4 deaths reported on June 15

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The government of Punjab, <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>, has ordered residents to stay inside after 6 p.m. on weekdays. </li><li>The government is also issuing a full weekend lockdown, from Friday at 6 p.m. to Monday at 5 a.m.</li><li>The curfew and lockdown come as <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> cases and deaths skyrocket across the country.</li></ul>The government of Punjab, India, has ordered a lockdown as COVID-19 cases surge across the country.The state ordered a 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. weekday curfew and a full weekend lockdown from Friday at 6 p.m. to Monday at 5 a.m., <a href="https://twitter.com/capt_amarinder/status/1386686935033253889">Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh said on Twitter.</a>"Urge you all to stay at home &amp; step out only if absolutely necessary. Seek your full cooperation," he said. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-india-cases-rising-record-infections-coronavirus-2021-4">India recorded more than 350,000 new COVID-19 cases on Sunda</a>y, marking the fifth day in a row the county broke world records for daily COVID-19 cases.

Punjab, India, has set a 6 p.m. weekday curfew and ordered a full weekend lockdown as COVID-19 cases surge

<ul><li>Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said buses shall be used for transport of such groups of stranded people and these vehicles will be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms in seating.</li><li>Listing the conditions, the ministry said all states and union territories should designate nodal authorities and develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such stranded persons. </li><li>In case a group of stranded persons wish to move between one state and union territory and another state and union territory, the sending and receiving states may consult each other and mutually agree to the movement by road. </li></ul> Migrant workers, tourists, students and other people, who are stranded in different parts of the country, were on Wednesday allowed to move to their respective destinations with certain conditions. In an order, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said buses shall be used for transport of such groups of stranded people and these vehicles will be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms in seating. "Due to lockdown, migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons are stranded at different places. They would be allowed to move," he said in an order issued to all states and union territories. Listing the conditions, the ministry said all states and union territories should designate nodal authorities and develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such stranded persons. The nodal authorities shall also register the stranded persons within their states and union territories, it said. In case a group of stranded persons wish to move between one state and union territory and another state and union territory, the sending and receiving states may consult each other and mutually agree to the movement by road. The moving persons would be screened and those found asymptomatic would be allowed to proceed, according to the home ministry. The states and union territories falling on the bus transit route will allow the passage of such persons to the receiving states and union territories, it said. On arrival at their destination, such persons would be assessed by the local health authorities, and kept in home quarantine, unless the assessment requires keeping the persons in institutional quarantine, the order said. They would be kept under watch with periodic health check-ups, it said. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/punjab-cm-extends-curfew-till-may-17-but-relaxes-it-for-4-hours-between-7-11-am/articleshow/75449539.cms">Punjab CM extends curfew till May 17 but relaxes it for 4 hours between 7-11 am</a>

Finally, millions of India’s stranded migrants can get a transport home — but conditions apply

Coronavirus cases in India rise to 7,115 leaving 7% cured and 199 dead on April 10

<ul><li>Delhi's Nizamuddin has become the biggest hotspot of Coronavirus in India.</li><li>Of the 10 cases reported in Andaman, nine are of individuals who were present at the event.</li><li>In Uttar Pradesh 50 people have been placed under quarantine.</li><li>The government has been able to track 125 people in Haryana and nine in Punjab who were present at the religious congregation.</li><li>50 positive cases of Coronavirus have emerged in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coranavirus-cases-in-tamil-nadu-news-and-updates/articleshow/74785909.cms">Tamil Nadu</a> with 501 people suspected to have attended the event and one dead.</li><li>The intelligence department has tracked 45 of the attendees to Kerala.</li><li>The congregation had at least 3,000 in attendance, including visitors from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.</li><li>The Delhi government has deemed the religious gathering a criminal act and FIRS have been registered against the officials of Tablighi Jamaat.</li><li>Police, paramilitary personnel, and drones are being used to monitor the area.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=coronavirus&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Follow the comprehensive coverage of the Coronavirus pandemic in India on Business Insider India</a></li></ul>Coronavirus had crossed India’s borders long before the nation went under lockdown and even before Prime Minister Narendra Modi tested the water with the Janata Curfew on March 22. However, what was unknown at the time was that it could make its way to a religious gathering and leave thousands uncertain about their fate. <div type="image" title="niza2" msid="74907928" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nizamuddin area in Delhi completely sealed as a group of 175 people from Delhi&amp;#39;s Nizamuddin area are being tested for Coronavirus in different hospitals amid worries that they may have been exposed to the infection at a gathering in a mosque that featured visitors from Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Delhi's Markaz Tablighi Jamanth at Hazrat Nizamuddin is now the single biggest hotspot in the country where officials estimate over 3,000 were in attendance — some from countries like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Indonesia where Coronavirus infections had already been reported. According to reports, it has led to at least eight deaths and 117 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in India, across the country. From Nizamuddin to the far flung corners of the country The event passed all but unnoticed until a 65-year old man in Jammu and Kashmir passed away on March 26. States in India are scrambling to figure out who attended the event and could have contracted the virus. On March 20, 10 Indonesians who attended the gathering had tested positive for Coroanvirus in Telangana. Ten days later, the Telangana government reported that six people who attended the congregation at Markaz Tablighi Jamath died from Covid-19. Around 194 people from the state attended the event with 15 testing positive so far. In Karanataka, five people attended the event, of which one is dead due to Coronavirus. Maharashtra, India's worst hit state as of April 1, reported that 109 people attended the event. Seven positive cases of Coronavirus have already emerged with one death. In Delhi, 24 people have tested positive for the virus. In neighboring states, Uttar Pradesh has placed 50 people under quarantine in the Jaunpur district and 125 people have been tracked down in Haryana. In Punjab, nine people reportedly attended the religious congregation. In <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coranavirus-cases-in-tamil-nadu-news-and-updates/articleshow/74785909.cms">Tamil Nadu</a>, officials estimate that around 500 people from the state were present at the event. So far, 50 positive cases of Coronavirus have showed up in the state with one dead. As a result, 22 secondary cases have emerged in Salem. <div type="image" title="niz2" msid="74915658" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Men wearing a protective facemasks sit on a special service bus taking them to a quarantine facility amid concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus in Nizamuddin area of New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> According to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, 441 people have tested positive for symptoms of the infection in the city so far. In Kerala, the intelligence department has tracked 45 people who were present at the event, according to Time Now. It is yet to be determined if any of them have been infected. Similarly in Assam, the government has tracked down 456 people who had gone to Delhi to attend the event at Hazrat Nizamuddin. In Odisha, only 3 people have been identified. <div type="image" title="niz6" msid="74915687" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A driver wears a mask and protective suit as he moves towards the bus in which people who came for &amp;#8216;Jamat&amp;#8217; at Nizamuddin Mosque being taken to LNJP Hospital for COVID-19 test &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Of the ten people infected in Andaman, nine had attended the event, according to Abhijit Roy, deputy director of health in the state. So far 1,034 people have been evacuated from the area and sent to various locations. Out of which, 344 have been admitted to hospitals and the rest have been committed to different quarantine centers. The buses sent to collect them had to make 34 round trips. <div type="twitter" handle="TelanganaCMO" handlename="Telangana CMO" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/493733709787308032/Zer8dZ3-_normal.jpeg" favoritecount="5028" retweetcount="2218" status="Six people from Telangana who attended a religious congregation at Markaz in Nizamuddin area of New Delhi from 13-1… https://t.co/qJi9J6pW3N" createdat="1585590792000" id="1244684114000662528"></div> Finding the missing links While it's easy to say that the gathering violated the lockdown parameters, the bigger question is why was nothing done about it. The Ministry of External Affairs issued the tourist visas for foreigners who wished to take part in the Tablighi Jamaat activities. The Delhi government and Delhi police were tasked with ensuring that their order should have been followed through. In fact, the Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station is right next to the Nizamuddin Markaz. Delhi government claims that the gathering was a criminal act. The congregation should have dispersed once the the directive prohibiting public gathering under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and the Delhi Epidemic Diseases COVID-19 Regulation, 2020 was in place. A case has been registered against Maulana Saad, head of the Tablighi Jamaat, and others officials of the group of defying the lockdown. <div type="image" title="niz3" msid="74915643" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Men wearing a protective facemasks sit on a special service bus taking them to a quarantine facility amid concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus in Nizamuddin area of New Delhi on March 31&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> "The lockdown was imposed imposed on March 24 and it was the duty of every owner and administrator of every hotel, guesthouse, hostel and similar establishment to maintain social distancing," said the government's statement. According to Markaz officials, no new people were allowed to enter the building after the lockdown was announced and as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement, they stay put instead of risking movement. They assert that the gathering had already begun before either Kerjiwal or Modi's lockdown announcements. The letter by Malauna Yusf on behalf of the Markaz mosque also pointed out that the Delhi government knew about the situation at Nizamuddin. The Health Ministry had found that on March 21, there were 1,746 people at Markaz of which 216 were foreigners, according to PTI. <div type="twitter" handle="ANI" handlename="ANI" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1497864299/ani_mic_logo_normal.jpg" favoritecount="10987" retweetcount="3044" status="Home Ministry has found violation of visa rules by foreigners who attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin, Del… https://t.co/Rdrsj9GzGr" createdat="1585635328000" id="1244870910886047746"></div> Nizamuddin Coronavirus timeline The religious gathering begun on March 13 and Delhi's lockdown was only announced by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 16. However once the the announcement was made, the people at Nizammudin Markaz did not evacuate to implement social distancing. It was on March 23, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Janata Curfew, that around 1,500 people finally left the premises. A day later, the nationwide lockdown was put into place for the next 21 days. Adhering the the new regulations, the Nizamuddin Police reportedly asked the people who were still at the Markaz to leave on March 24. However, nearly 1,000 people continued to stay put despite the lockdown orders. A day later, on March 25, a medical team finally visits the building — isolating those who are suspected of having Coronavirus in an empty hall within the Markaz. Only then do the Jamaat officials go the authorities to file an application for passes in order to vacate the area. According to the deputy chairman of the SDMC standing committee, Rajpal Singh, the Markaz building is an unauthorised construction. He has asked the district commissioner of the central zone to seal the building. <div type="image" title="niz4" msid="74915727" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nizamuddin area in Delhi completely sealed and with a makeshift tents to test for coronavirus &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> According to the Delhi Police, they sent two notices, on March 23 and March 28, to the mosque committee asking them to vacate but were ignored. There are over 20,000 residents in the area who may have been exposed to someone with Covid-19. In addition, the Nizamuddin Sufi shrine is a tourist attraction where people gather in large numbers — from all across the country and the world. <div type="image" title="niza3" msid="74907944" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Medical camps set up in the Nizamuddin area&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Sealing off Nizamuddin Special teams have been deployed to track who came into contact with the deceased at the event, to test them for Coronavirus and ensure that they remain under quarantine until cleared. Drones are also being used to monitor the area around the Markaz building. The Telangana government also offered free tests and treatment to anyone who was at the event, if they came forward. To keep the infection from spreading, the entire area has been cordoned off by the police and paramilitary personnel. A screening camp has been established to keep track of any individual who exhibits symptoms of Coronavirus. A team of 54 workers and tankers has been deployed equipped with 30,000 litres of disinfectant. <div type="image" title="niz5" msid="74915741" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Men wearing a protective facemasks sit on a special service bus taking them to a quarantine facility amid concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus in Nizamuddin area of New Delhi &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The Delhi government has requested the Sports Authority of India to convert the Nehru Stadium into a quarantine centre to accomodate the hundreds of people who were present in Nizamuddin during the religious gathering. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coranavirus-cases-in-kerala-news-and-updates/articleshow/74775194.cms">Coronavirus cases in Kerala news and updates</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coranavirus-cases-in-tamil-nadu-news-and-updates/articleshow/74785909.cms">Coronavirus cases in Tamil Nadu news and updates</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-haryana-news-and-updates/articleshow/74771116.cms">Coronavirus cases in Haryana news and updates</a>

Delhi's Nizamuddin becomes the biggest hotspot of Coronavirus in India

<ul><li>The religious gathering at Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin began on March 13, a day before Delhi’s announced a city-wide lockdown.</li><li>Many of the attendees reportedly entered the country with tourist visas instead of missionary visas required for religious congregations.</li><li>A former Indian diplomat told Business Insider that religious congregations with international visitors normally need additional approvals from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).</li><li>The Delhi police claims that it sent two notices to the occupants of Markaz Tablighi Jamaat which were ignored.</li></ul>Delhi’s Markaz Tablighi Jamaat at Hazrat Nizamuddin has become India’s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/nizamuddins-coronavirus-disaster-is-a-scary-example-of-how-the-infection-can-fly-under-the-radar/articleshow/74907602.cms">largest hotspot of Coronavirus</a> - spreading it to at least seven states. At least three central government departments were in the know of the event — including intelligence branches, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Within Delhi, the Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station is located right next to the Markaz mosque. It’s unlikely that the authorities were unaware of the situation developing right in their neighborhood. <div type="image" title="policestation_edited" msid="74930968" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Hazat Nizamuddin Police Station is located right next to Markaz Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> While it's easy to say that the gathering violated the lockdown parameters, the bigger question is why no precautionary measures were taken to keep the situation from snowballing into a crisis. According to officials, over 3,000 people were present at the event, which means it’s unlikely that the gathering went unnoticed. Before the event — Ministry of External Affairs and immigration Since many attendees were foreign nationals, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) would have had to issue visas for them to enter the country. However, since the gathering at Nizamuddin was a religious congregation, travel authorisation requires a special missionary visa, rather than the regular tourist visa. <div type="image" title="aai13" msid="74931438" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Indian government places checkpoints and restrictions are airport to scan international passengers for symptoms of Coronavirus&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “There is a separate visa for those who wish to visit India for a religious event just as there are separate visas for those who wish to participate in a business conference and a sporting match,” according to a former Indian diplomat, who wished to remain anonymous. He told Business Insider that religious congregations with international visitors normally need additional approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). So a person who wishes to attend a religious event of any kind, has to apply for a missionary visa — not a tourist visa. <div type="image" title="aai_2" msid="74931452" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Medical workers scanning international passengers for symptoms of Coronavirus at airports in India&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Due to these violations, it’s difficult for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to furnish a list of attendees that came in from other countries. Anyone found attending the event with the incorrect visa will likely be black listed from here on out, said the official. During the event — Delhi government and local police The religious gathering began on March 13 and Delhi's lockdown was only announced by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 14. However once the announcement was made, the people at Nizammudin Markaz did not evacuate to implement social distancing. <div type="image" title="markaz7" msid="74931488" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Representative image: Thousands attend Ramadan prayers at the Markaz mosque in Nizamuddin in 2019&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Even as foreign visitors streamed in, they were not scanned for symptoms at the gates before entering the event. There were no precautionary measures put in place. Furthermore, on March 16, gatherings of more than 50 people were banned in Delhi till March 31. Delhi government claims that the gathering was a criminal act. It had already put the directive prohibiting public gathering under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and the Delhi Epidemic Diseases COVID-19 Regulation, 2020 in place on March 13. <div type="image" title="markaz1" msid="74931566" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People wears a mask following an outbreak of the Coronavirus outside the city hospital in New Delhi on March 15 &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> A case has been registered against Maulana Saad, head of the Tablighi Jamaat, and other officials of the group of defying the lockdown. In a letter to the Lajpat Nagar district commissioner by Malauna Yusf on behalf of the Markaz mosque, pointed out that the Delhi government knew about the situation at Nizamuddin. After the event — Ministry of Railways warns passengers The first indication of the Coronavirus outbreak spreading from Nizamuddin to other parts of the country was when 10 Indonesians tested positive for the infection in Telangana. Even before the nationwide lockdown by Modi, the Ministry of Railways had issued a warning that some of its passengers were found positive for Coronavirus. They told customers to avoid all non-essential travel which was reportedly due to people travelling home from the congregation at Nizamuddin, according to <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/railways-first-uncovered-covid-19-positive-in-tablighi-jamaat/articleshow/74928603.cms">Times of India</a>. <div type="twitter" handle="RailMinIndia" handlename="Ministry of Railways" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/485049154880536576/ZoQ3rXKw_normal.png" favoritecount="15043" retweetcount="5521" status="Railways has found some cases of Coronavirus infected passengers in trains which makes train travel risky. Avoid… https://t.co/F78qVX3ox3" createdat="1584784455000" id="1241302092859314176"></div> On March 23, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Janata Curfew, around 1,500 people finally left the premises. A day later, the nationwide lockdown was put into place for the next 21 days. <div type="image" title="markaz3" msid="74931503" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Delhi streets lie isolated during Modi&amp;#39;s Janata Curfew on March 22&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> According to the mosque officials, no new people were allowed to enter the building after the lockdown was announced. As per Modi's announcement, they stayed put instead of risking movement. However, the Delhi government has a different take of the situation. Adhering to the new regulations, the Nizamuddin Police reportedly asked the people who were still at the Markaz to leave on March 24. However, nearly 1,000 people continued to stay put despite the lockdown orders. "The national lockdown was imposed on March 24 and it was the duty of every owner and administrator of every hotel, guesthouse, hostel and similar establishment to maintain social distancing," said the government's statement. A day later, on March 25, a medical team finally visited the building — isolating those who were suspected of having Coronavirus into an empty hall within the Markaz. Only then did the Jamaat officials go to the authorities to file an application for passes to vacate the area — including 17 passes for vehicles to assist in transportation. Before evacuation could happen, a 65-year old Indian preacher who attended the religious event died after testing positive for Coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar on March 26. The sub-district magistrate visited the Markaz to call Jamaat officials to meet the district magistrate. They agreed to allow the movement of vehicles so that people can be evacuated from the mosque. Evacuation of Markaz Tablighi Jamaat According to the Delhi Police, they sent two notices, on March 23 and March 28, to the mosque committee asking them to vacate, but were ignored. The second notice came after the six suspected cases were evacuated from the mosque and sent to a quarantine facility at Jhajjar in Haryana on March 27. <div type="image" title="markaz4" msid="74931590" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;WHO doctors arrive at Markaz mosque to set up medical camps and scan residents for symptoms of Coronavirus&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> On the day of the notice, a team of doctors from the World Health Organisation (WHO) visited the mosque along with the sub-district magistrate. They found 33 people with symptoms, who were subsequently sent into isolation at the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital in Delhi. As the entire situation unfolded, the deputy chairman of the SDMC standing committee, Rajpal Singh, pointed out that the Markaz mosque is an unauthorised construction asking the district commissioner to seal the building. Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police at Lajpat then sent an eviction notice their way on March 28. The next day, six people in Telangana who were at the event and tested positive for Coronavirus died — and that’s when the news made national headlines, and authorities sprung into action. <div type="image" title="markaz6" msid="74931600" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Men march from Markaz to the specially arranged buses as the area gets evacuated on March 30&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Even though a lot of people were in the know of what was happening in Nizamuddin, staggered information and misinformation seem to be the cause how Coronavirus was able to slip under the radar. And, it could be India’s first case of community transmission that has already killed eight people and infected at least 117 as of now. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/nizamuddins-coronavirus-disaster-is-a-scary-example-of-how-the-infection-can-fly-under-the-radar/articleshow/74907602.cms">Delhi's Nizamuddin becomes the biggest hotspot of Coronavirus in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/nizamuddin-tablighi-meet-cases-in-haryana-and-punjab/articleshow/74924161.cms">Nearly 125 from Haryana, 9 from Punjab attended Nizamuddin Tablighi meet</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/50-attendees-of-nizamuddin-religious-gathering-quarantined-in-ups-jaunpur/articleshow/74923118.cms">50 attendees of Nizamuddin religious gathering quarantined in UP's Jaunpur</a>

Nizamuddin Coronavirus hotspot: Everyone who knew about the religious gathering at Delhi's Markaz Tablighi Jamaat

List of states and districts under lockdown in India

Following in the footsteps of Punjab and Rajasthan, <keyword id="68884" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telangana">Telangana</keyword> will also lockdown till March 31 to combat <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword>. A decision in this regard was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister K. <keyword id="68885" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrasekhar-Rao">Chandrasekhar Rao</keyword> on Sunday. The Chief Minister will make a formal announcement this evening. The decision came on a day when the state is observing a 24-hour shutdown. Backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Janata Curfew' call, Rao extended it by 10 hours. Telangana has so far reported 21 COVID-19 positive cases. The first secondary transmission came to light on Saturday, sending the alarm bells ringing. The son of a man who had returned from Dubai and tested positive on March 19, was also found infected by the virus. See also: <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/data-of-coronavirus-patients-state-wise-in-india/articleshow/74669748.cms">Coronavirus cases in India state wise</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/helpline-numbers-for-coronavirus-cases-in-india-state-wise/articleshow/74725332.cms">India Helpline number for Coronavirus cases</a>

You Searched For "punjab curfew news" and got 10 results

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