Tablighi Jamaat leader asks followers to follow govt orders, says he’s in isolation

HIGHLIGHTS

• Maulana Saad says he’s in isolation following medical advice
• Asks followers to stay home, follow government orders
• Many coronavirus cases linked to Tablighi Jamaat congregation

The leader of an Islamic missionary movement booked by the Delhi Police for a congregation linked to a coronavirus case cluster says he is in isolation following medical advice.

A manhunt is underway to find Maulana Saad Kandhalvi of the Tablighi Jamaat, who is asking worshippers in a new audio message to remain at home and follow government orders.

Scores of coronavirus cases have been linked to a congregation of preachers that took place last month at the Banglawali Masjid in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area, where the Tablighi Jamaat’s Markaz — our headquarters — is located.

The government has blamed a sharp uptick in cases on the congregation, and a sweeping exercise is underway to track down attendees.

More than 5,000 people who took part have been quarantined, according to PTI.

As of this writing, India had over 2,000 coronavirus cases and 58 deaths, according to an India Today tracker.

The whole country is under lockdown in an attempt to promote social distancing and curb the spread of the coronavirus, a new kind called Sars-CoV-2. The shutdown is scheduled to end on April 14.

The coronavirus spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and causes a potentially fatal disease called Covid-19.

Although most people recover without needing special treatment, one in six falls seriously ill and has difficulty breathing, with the elderly and people with pre-existing ailments at greater risk.

News in Headlines.com has plenty of useful resources that can help you better understand the coronavirus pandemic and protect yourself. Read our comprehensive guide (with information on how the virus spreads, precautions and symptoms), watch an expert debunk myths and check out our data analysis of cases in India. To access our dedicated coronavirus page, click on the tracker link in the story. Get the latest updates on our live blog.