4,291 cases linked to Markaz event in Delhi: Health ministry

New Delhi: Of the 14,378 coronavirus infections reported in the country so far, 4,291 cases in 23 states and Union Territories are linked to the Markaz event held in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area in March, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.
Addressing a daily media briefing to give updates on the COVID-19 situation in the country, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said most of the Markaz event-related cases have been found in states with high burden of the disease, such as Tamil Nadu (84 per cent), Telengana (79 per cent), Delhi (63 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (59 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (61 per cent).
“A total of 4,291 COVID-19 cases or 29.8 per cent of the 14,378 coronavirus infections reported so far are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation,” he said.
4,291 of 14,378 or around 29.8% positive #COVID2019 cases have been found to have arisen from a single source in Nizamuddin Markaz cluster – @MoHFW_INDIA https://t.co/K3CLXZb13g #IndiaFightsCorona — PIB India (@PIB_India) April 18, 2020 The health ministry official also said that in some states which have reported fewer number of COVID-19 infections, also had cases with links to the Markaz event.
For example, the only coronavirus case reported in Arunachal Pradesh till now is related to the Markaz event. Similarly, 32 of the 35 cases reported in Assam and 10 out of 12 cases from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are linked to the same congregation, he said.
According to the Union health ministry, 991 fresh COVID-19 cases and 43 fatalities have been reported in the country in 24 hours since Friday morning, taking the total number of cases to 14,378 and the death toll to 480.