Tibetan govt-in-exile on alert after Covid-19 outbreak at monastery

DHARAMSHALA: After the Covid-19 outbreak at Gyuto Tantric Monastery in Sidhbari near Dharamshala, the Kangra district administration on Wednesday asked the Tibetan government-in-exile to ensure its institutions follow the protocol.

“We have asked the government-in-exile to advise its institutions and Tibetan population to follow the Covid-19 protocol so that any such outbreak can be averted,” said Kangra deputy commissioner Rakesh Kumar Prajapati.

Outbreak after Tibetan New Year festivities

Since last week, 160 monks at Gyuto monastery have tested positive for Covid-19.

Prajapati said investigation into the Gyuto monastery cluster suggests that the outbreak started after Losar, the Tibetan New Year, festivities on February 14. Fifteen monks, comprising 13 from Karnataka and two from Delhi, were at the monastery from February 16 to 19. The index case in the monastery was reported on February 23.

Monks from other states test negative

What has left the health authorities perplexed is the fact that the monks who came from outside Himachal Pradesh have tested negative for coronavirus.

“We aren’t sure about the origin of the outbreak as those who came from Karnataka and Delhi have tested negative,” said Prajapati. He said the test report of 26 monks advised repeat sample were awaited. Monastery head Kelsang Gyatso’s report was also awaited.

77 more infected in HP

Himachal Pradesh recorded 77 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday taking the state’s tally to 58,877. No death was reported.

Himachal has been one of states that is trying its best to come out of the covid crisis, as the majority of the population depends on tourism. The new cases do not make for pleasant reading for the beautiful hill state.