One of the four persons who tested positive in Assam on Wednesday is an inhabitant of Uttar Pradesh and had reached the state along with 10 others from Nizamuddin in Delhi for some “religious matter”, prompting the district administration to seal the area they were staying from 7pm.

The person has been identified as Md Arshad Ali, 19, son of Md Idris, from Kairana in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh. His 10 companions are also from Kairana.

An order by Nalbari deputy commissioner on Wednesday evening said Mallapara in Nalbari town will remain sealed from 7pm till further orders “to arrest the spread of Covid-19 in the interest of public health”.

It said there would be no entry and exit of people residing in the area, movement of vehicles will be restricted and there will be strict enforcement of all statutory directions regarding social distancing during the lockdown. About 700 people will be affected by the order.

Ali was one of the four persons who tested positive on Wednesday, and all of them had visited Nizamuddin, where over 24 had tested positive till Tuesday.

“Nine of the 11 are under 20 years while the remaining are aged 57 and 60. All are under home quarantine since they arrived by the Brahmaputra Mail on March 21, before being shifted to Swahid Mukunda Kakati civil hospital in Nalbari today. They couldn’t return because of the lockdown,” an official said.

Their blood samples were tested after the first case was detected in Karimganj district on Tuesday evening. Till date, they have not displayed any symptoms. The results of others are awaited.

Manipur scenario: In Manipur, 14 people who had taken part in the religious congregation at Nizamuddin have been traced, of whom 10 have been tested. Nine have tested negative while another person, their guide, has been found to be “indeterminate”.

Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences director Dr Th. Bhimo said another test would be done soon.

Additional reporting by our special correspondent in Guwahati and Brozendra Ningomba in Imphal