Eight more persons have tested positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19) in Tamil Nadu on Sunday (29 March), increasing the number of those affected by the pandemic to 50.

All the eight persons had got infected from the two Thai Tablighi Jamaat preachers, part of a seven-member group, who tested Covid-19 positive on 23 March.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Dr C Vijayabhaskar tweeted that the eight were traced through the State Health Department Contact Tracing team and all have been isolated for treatment.

A Tamil Nadu Health family Welfare Department note, however, said four were from Coimbatore, including a 29-year-old doctor. The other three were her child, mother and servant maid.

The note said four from Erode who have got infected had a travel history from Delhi to Erode. It is not clear if these persons were part of the Thai Tablighi preacher group or passengers of the Millennium Express in which the Tablighi Jamaat group landed in Erode.

On Saturday, a 61-year-old person in Salem had tested positive for Coronavirus after coming in contact with a group of 11 Indonesian Tablighi preachers.

Including the eight from Erode, so far 16 persons have got infected in Tamil Nadu after coming in contact either with the Indonesian or Thai Tablighi Jamaat preachers - 11 of them in Erode alone.

Besides, six Tablighi Jamaat preachers - four Indonesians and two Thais - have also tested positive for Covid-19.

The pandemic virus has claimed the life of one person, a 54-year-old person in Madurai who had come with contact with the two Thai Tablighi preachers at Madurai Anna Nagar mosque. The deceased person’s wife and son have now tested positive for the pandemic virus and have been put in isolation wards.

On 27 March, two persons in Erode who came in contact with the Thailand preachers tested positive for Coronavirus. On 26 March, a person in Salem tested positive for Covid-19 after coming into contact with a group of 11 Indonesian preachers.

Both the Tablighi Jamaat preacher groups have been going through the western districts of Erode and Salem since 10 March, besides visiting Madurai.

Of the 50 who have tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu four have recovered. About 300 people have been placed in isolation wards.

Thai Tablighi preachers

The two Thailand Tablighi Jamaat preachers, part of a seven-member group, tested positive for Covid-19 on 22 March. One of the seven-member group died last week at Coimbatore from health complication such as diabetes and hypertension.

However, since he showed signs of being infected with Coronavirus, the entire group was screened at the IRT Medical College Hospital in Perundari, near Erode. The Thai preachers have visited at least three mosques in Erode.

Indonesian Islamic Preachers

A total of 14 Indonesia Islamic preachers and their Salem guide tested positive on 25 March after the district collector ordered a fresh screening at the Rajaji Government Hospital in the city. The Indonesians had reportedly been screened at Chennai before they travelled to Salem.

They have visited at least four mosques in the region.

Click here for more information on the Tablighi Jamaat.