CoronaVirus Live updates: In 12hrs AP records 43 COVID-19 cases, most traveled to Nizamuddin

Vijayawada : Andhra Pradesh reported 43 new COVID-19 positive cases within a span of 12 hours, taking the tally to 87. Kadapa district, which had not reported any case until Tuesday, recorded 15 cases in 12 hours. Prakasam district too reported 15 cases. Similarly, West Godavari district recorded 13 cases from zero on Tuesday. In the last 12 hours, 373 samples were tested, 43 samples proved positive while 330 proved negative.

With 43 new cases, the number has doubled in AP. From 44 cases on Tuesday, it has reached 87 on Wednesday. Of them, a majority are linked to Tablighi Jamaat congregation held at Nizamuddin in New Delhi.

A 10-year-old boy is the youngest victim of COVID 19. He possibly contracted the infection from the Mecca returned person in Karnataka, at Lepakshi in Anantapur. It may be recalled that Vizag has reported four more positive cases on Tuesday and one case on Wednesday (April 1st )

Meanwhile, the Health and Family Welfare Department has asked the district officials to track the persons who had returned from Delhi and put them and their families under quarantine. The Wakf Board has also been roped in to reach out to the returnees and their families. The returnees have been asked to voluntarily approach the authorities by dialing 104 helpline number. Many of the returnees were identified and surrounding areas were already put on high alert.

Around 800 from AP joined Tablighi convention, most un-traced

More than 800 persons had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi, between 12-17 March.

Officials said, the 800 are from 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh . Of whom 189 people are from Kurnool, 88 from Guntur, 73 from Anantapur, 68 from Nellore, 67 from Prakasam, 59 from Kadapa and 42 from Vizag district.

Of the 800 plus , 297 have been home quarantined and 329 others are admitted to isolation wards in various hospitals. However, whereabouts of the rest are yet to be traced.

Tablighi Jamaat convocation is held every two years at Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi. Presided by Moulana Saadh, Tablighi members address the gathering and motivate Muslims to say Namaz.

Tablighi Jamaat members also go door to door motivating people to say Namaz. This year, 1,500 to 2,000 members attended the convocation. About 25 to 30 members from each district of AP and Telangana attended the congregation. A Tablighi Jamaat leader from Mallepalli was in charge of AP and Telangana.

People from AP and Telangana started to return on the evening of March 17. Most of the members reached their hometown from March 18 and March 20.