Assam Reports First COVID-19 Death, Total Positive Cases 29

Guwahati, April 10, 2020:

Assam has reported its first death due to COVID-19 in the early hours of Friday. 65-year-old Faijul Haque Barbhuyan, hailing from Hailakandi, passed away around 2 AM on April 10 following complications of the virus, informed Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The 65-year-old was undergoing treat at the Silchar Medical College.

"With utmost Grief and sorrow,I would like to inform that Sri Faijul Haque Barbhyan,(65)Hailakandi District has expired few minutes back in SMCH due to complication of COVID19 infection. My deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family," Sarma tweeted.

Out of the 29 total positive cases of COVID-19, one has died. The 65-year-old from Hailakandi was a Tablighi Jamaat attendee.

Assam on Thursday evening declared its 29th case of COVID-19 - one from Dhubri disrict who came in the contact of Nizamuddin Markaz attendee tested positive.

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed about the positive case through his Twitter handle. “Alert ~ A person from Dhubri, who was in contact with a positive patient (with Markaz linkage) from the same district, has been confirmed as 

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On Thursday morning Sarma had informed about Assam's 28th positive case, who had a travel history to Saudi Arab. It may be mentioned here that the Northeastern State saw a spike in the COVID-19 cases soon after the Tabligh Jamaat, an annual religious congregation, held at Nizamuddin Markaz near Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi came to the fore.

Thousands from across the country and abroad participated in the event. Attendees from Indonesia, Malaysia, Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh had participated in the Tabligh Jamaat held in March. According to reports, 24 out of these had tested positive for COVID-19 and 200 others had shown symptoms of the virus. As many as 1,400 people were believed to have been exposed to the virus now. However, many of them have still not reported to their nearest health centres.

The Markaz emerged as the hotspot for coronavirus infection, thereby posing as a threat to all of the ones who had come in contact with the Markaz attendees.

A few Mosques and Muslim Societies in Assam have banned the entry of personnel from the Tablighi Jamaat sect. Two Mosques in Jorhat, Rojahauli and Kokilamukh, were the first to take the step.

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The Rojahauli Mosque Committee, condemning the gathering at Nizamuddin Markaz, had stated that legal action would be taken if persons from the mosques participate in future Tabligh Jamaat gatherings. Moreover, members of the mosques were urged not to express any questionable opinions on social media.

Similarly, the Baligaon (Kokilamukh) Muslim Society, condemning the incident, had also banned the entry of the Jamaat members in light of the “situation” that had unfolded in Assam in the aftermath of the gathering. The society further promised action against anyone from Baligaon if they participate in Tablighi Jamaat gatherings in future.

In Guwahati, the Burah Jame Masjid appealed its followers to abide by the Government prescribed protocol to combat the coronavirus. The Masjid suspended the night time Namaaz and urged Muslims to observe all the religious rites and worship activities — including the reciting of Namaaz — in their respective homes. The note was undersigned by Nizamul Haque, the General Secretary of the Burha Jame Masjid Committee in Guwahati’s Ambari.

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