20 monks test positive for Covid in Dharamsala's Gyuto monastery

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 27

After a considerable drop in Covid cases, there has been a sudden surge of infections in Kangra district. What was more worrying for administration bulk of new cases have been reported from Gyuto Tantric Monastery of Karmapa in Sidhpur area of Dharamsala.

It is for the first time since the Covid pandemic outbreak that considerable number of monks, living in a monastery in Dharamsala, have tested positive for the infection. 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 virus.

As per Kangra CMO GD Gupta today 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 today 70 were tested today and 20 were tested positive. Only one monk had symptoms and has been shifted to Corona hospital in Tanda medical college.

The remaining who tested positive were asymptomatic and have been asked to stay under self isolation. All monks who are staying in Gyuto monastery would be tested for Covid, the CMO said.

The CMO said the monks who have been tested positive had no travel history.

Gyuto tantric monastery in Sidhbari was the headquarters of 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje in Dharamsala. However, Karmapa who left India in May 2017 on a tourist visa to US has not returned to India. Karmapa has now taken up the citizenship of Dominica a Caribbean island nation.