Coronavirus | 25 Fresh COVID-19 Cases Reported In Delhi, Total Rises To 97: Health Department

The national capital on Monday reported twenty five fresh coronavirus cases, which takes the total number of cases in the national capital to 97. Arvind Kejriwal said that intense patrolling on Delhi’s borders has been initiated to prevent movement of migrant workers in the national capital during the ongoing 21-day lockdown period. He said an alarming situation had arisen after a large number of people gathered in Kaushambi bordering Delhi’s Anand Vihar over rumours that buses were stationed there to take migrant workers to their home states, PTI reported. The situation is under control now but some people are still trying to enter Delhi. Therefore, patrolling has been intensified in border areas of the city, the chief minister said.

The Delhi government on Monday directed the police to register an FIR against Maulana Saad Kandalwi of Nizamuddin Markaz after several cases of suspected coronavirus were found in the Nizamuddin area. The Maulana has been accused of organising a Tablighi Jamaat congregation in the area, even as the lockdown was announced, thus flouting the social distancing norms. According to sources, when the 21-day nationwide lockdown was announced, there were thousands of persons present inside the Tablighi Jamaat's international headquarters in southwest Delhi.

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The Delhi government said the lockdown was imposed in entire country from March 24 midnight, and "it was the duty of every owner and administrator of every hotel, guesthouse, hostel and similar establishment to maintain social distancing. It looks like social distancing and quarantine protocols was not practiced."

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The government said now it has come to knowledge that the organisers violated these conditions and several cases of corona positive patients have been found here. "Strong action would be taken against those in charge of this establishment. By this gross act of negligence, many lives have been endangered. It was the responsibility of every citizen to proactively avoid such gathering of people during the lockdown and this is nothing but a criminal act." An FIR against the Maulana, in his early 50s, has been directed, it said.

(With agency input)