All those who had attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin area in Delhi and were traced in the State had entered Haryana before the nationwide lockdown was announced, State Director General of Police (DGP) Manoj Yadava said on Friday.

The DGP said during investigation it had come to the fore that all 1,277 people including 107 foreigners had entered the State before the lockdown was enforced and a majority of them came on March 14, 17 and 20. The countrywide lockdown was enforced from March 25.

"There were no restrictions in place when they entered Haryana. I can assure that no one entered after March 25,” the DGP said during a joint media conference addressed by him and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Vijai Vardhan and ACS (Health) Rajiv Arora via video link.

State Home Minister Anil Vij had earlier said the 107 foreigners were from countries, including Bangladesh, Malaysia, South Africa, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

These foreigners were traced to five districts of Palwal, Faribadad, Panipat, Ambala and Nuh, Yadava said. If any other violation comes to the fore during the probe, then charges will be added in the already registered FIRs, he added.ACS (Home) Vardhan said all the foreigners have been quarantined.

When asked about the nearly 60-70 people who were in attendance at the Nizamuddin event and had been brought to AIIMS Badsa in Jhajjar district, ACS (Health) Arora said, “As far the National Cancer Institute at Badsa is concerned, it has been declared as a designated COVID-19 hospital by the Centre. It is also the sub-centre of AIIMS, Delhi and directly comes under the Centre." He added that only AIIMS or the Union Ministry of Health can give updates on who all have been admitted there.

DGP Yadava said police is at the forefront of the fight to prevent spread of coronavirus infection. “We have put adequate police force at all 162 entry points to the enforce the lockdown. Police personnel are also deployed in the mandis to ensure that when people purchase essentials, social distancing is maintained,” the DGP said.

Care is also taken to ensure that police personnel on duty are provided with masks and sanitisers and each week their medical examination is conducted, Yadava pointed out.

ACS (Health) Arora sought to assure that there was no dearth of personal protection equipment for doctors, nurses and paramedics, who are at the frontline of the battle to prevent the spread of coronavirus, pointing out that none of them will be deprived of proper protection.

In reply to a question, ACS (Home) Vardhan said 573 relief camps and shelters have been set up across the state to provide succour to poor sections including daily wage workers who have been hit hard by the ongoing situation.

As many as 15,850 migrant workers have been accommodated in 288 relief camps, Vardhan added.

CHIEF SECY DIRECTS OFFICERS ON ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

Haryana Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora on Friday directed the officers to ensure the supply of all the essential commodities being given under the Public Distribution System (PDS) at the depots in each district by April 5. She said that the availability of wheat, rice, pulses, and edible items being distributed under PDS should be done in a staggered manner, ensuing social distancing.

Presiding over a meeting of the Crisis Coordination Committee meeting through video conferencing here, she was apprised that there is adequate availability of essential commodities in the markets. Apart from this new supply chain of Dal and mustard oil from New Delhi market has also started. It was further informed that proper arrangements have been made for ensuring the availability of LPG cylinders and refilling of the same.

She directed that to ensure the adequate availability of PPE kits in each district, the officers should explore the possibilities of identifying the textile industries and manufactures which can make these kits. She directed the officers to identify such manufactures, while the testing of these kits as per the prescribed medical standards should be ensured. 

Showing concern about the doctors, paramedics and health workers, involved in COVID-19 duty, she said that it should also be ensured that availability of essential medical equipments including, PPE kits, masks, , and sanitizers have been made for their safety. She directed that the availability of ventilators, PPE kits and oxygen cylinders in each hospital should be ensured.

Arora directed that a supervisor officer should be deployed for private labs and it should be ensured that new COVID-19 testing labs are to be set up. She said that the facility of telemedicine and mobile OPDs should be started immediately.

Meanwhile, showing concern over the issue of the people living in slum areas across the State, the Chief Secretary directed that close vigil of the people living in these slums should be done and medical testing of such people should be ensured to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

She directed the Deputy Commissioners to keep a close vigil on the control and stop the movement of migrant labourers making inter districts movements and it should be ensured that they are asked to stay in the dedicated ‘Relief Camps' set up across the State.