The officials said on Sunday that seven people, who came in contact with 16 Tablighi Jamaat members staying at a mosque in Katghora town of Chhattisgarh’s Korba district, have tested positive for the coronavirus disease, taking the number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 25.
Chhattisgarh reports 7 new COVID-19 cases: tally rises to 25
The official also said that with these cases, the number of confirmed cases in the Purani Basti area of Katghora town, which has emerged as the COVID-19 hotspot in the state, has gone up to 16.
The rise in numbers comes a day after Chhattisgarh’s chief minister Bhupesh Baghel suggested extending the restrictions on the inter-state road, air, and railway traffic to curb the spread of COVID-19.
During a video conference call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM has said that the state should be allowed to carry out economic activities during the lockdown period.
He also demanded an early economic package from the Centre to boost the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.
Dipanshu Kabra, Bilaspur’s inspector general of police said, “Some of these people met the 16 Tablighi Jamaat members who were staying at a mosque in Purani Basti locality and then spread it (COVID-19) to others. They are from a nearby locality and tested positive late on Saturday night.”
He also informed, “These seven people who tested positive on Saturday night are not Jamaatis.”
He further added that a 16-year-old boy from this Jamaat group had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier on April 4, after which another eight others in the area got infected.
Dr. Karan Peepre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences’ medical superintendent, said that all of the seven people tested positive for coronavirus late on Saturday night and were brought to AIIMS Raipur.
He further added, “They are stable and their health is good.”
Meanwhile, Katghora, around 200km from state capital Raipur, has been sealed and samples of all people in the area are being taken for screening for COVID-19.
Twenty-five people have tested positive for the infection in Chhattisgarh so far, out of which 10 have recovered and discharged from hospitals.
The Chhattisgarh government has made wearing face masks mandatory in public places in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus infection.
