150 monks test COVID-19 positive at Gyuto monastery in Himachal's Dharamsala

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, March 2

A sudden surge of COVID cases in Kangra district has left the administration worried. After 24 monks tested positive on February 23, about 330 more monks were tested for the deadly disease, reported ANI.

Out of 330 monks, 154 tested positive at Gyuto Tantric Monastery, Sidhbari, confirmed ANI.

Kangra CMO GD Gupta said that one monk is in a critical condition, and has been shifted to Tanda Medical College while others remain in isolation in the monastery itself.

He added that monks who have been home-isolated had travelled from Karnataka and Delhi during new year celebrations, and that the monastery has been closed for visitors since March 5, 2020.

Following initial cases on Feb 23rd, 330 monks tested so far for #COVID19 & 154 of them tested positive at Gyuto Tantric Monastery, Sidhbari. One monk in critical condition shifted to Tanda Medical College, others in isolation in the monastery itself: CMO Kangra, Himachal Pradesh pic.twitter.com/7fruVXjMtv

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2021

Since the coronavirus outbreak most of the Tibetan monasteries were lying closed as the authorities governing these institutions were observing extra caution to prevent spread of the virus.

Earlier, the Kangra CMO, GD Gupta said that the 24 new cases of coronavirus infection were reported in the district, including 20 from Gyuto Tantric Monastery in Sidhpur.

The CMO when contacted said there were about 400 monks staying in Gyuto monastery. Out of them, 70 were tested and 20 had tested positive.