In what is likely to set alarm bells ringing for the health authorities, the Haryana government on Thursday said five people who came to the state after attending the Tablighi Jamaat's congregation in New Delhi' last month have tested positive for coronavirus.
Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said two of the infected patients were traced to Ambala while three in Palwal tested positive for coronavirus.
Later in the day, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a videoconferencing that the count of those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat's congregation and came to Haryana afterwards has shot up to 1,277.
He said the number also included 107 foreigners and the jamaat returnees were traced to five districts in the state.
About the foreigners, Khattar said their passports have been confiscated and FIRs registered for various violations, a state government statement said.
He said samples of all 107 foreigners have been sent for testing and reports were awaited.
Vij said these foreigners were from Bangladesh, Malaysia, South Africa, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
He said a majority were on tourist visas. All had concealed information regarding their travel details within the country and action as per law is being contemplated against them, he said.
Asked if the foreigners will be deported, Vij, who is also Haryana's Home Minister, replied, "We cannot do so till they test negative."
Asked how many of these could have entered the state after the lockdown, Vij said, "This information is being gathered. In every district, they have an in-charge and we are trying to gather more details."
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