In one of the worst cluster cases among the Tibetan exile community, Gyuto monastery discovered with 156 positive COVID-19 cases. The Tibetan monastery located in lower part of Dharamshala called Sidhpur is an important institution for the Buddhist monks. Due to surprising discovery of such a large cluster case, the monastery has been sealed as a containment zone by the local authorities.
On February 28, the monastery discovered 20 COVID-19 positive cases among the monks. As per the guideline of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, if there are more than 10 COVID-19 positive cases with a 100 meter radius area, it is required to be sealed as containment zone. Following contact tracing and test, the total number of positive cases from the monastery climbed to 156.
“Around one hundred Buddhist monks from Gyuto Monastery in Dharamshala have tested positive for COVID-19 today. Total 156 monks have tested positive in the monastery. This locality has been declared as a containment zone,” Kangra Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gurdarshan Gupta has told the press on Monday.
Apart from one critical case among the monks, all others are reported to be asymptomatic and have been placed in quarantine at their respective rooms of the monastery. The critical case has been shifted to the COVID-19 ward at Tanda Hospital, the largest state run medical facility in the neighbouring districts.
Gyuto Tantric Monastery is a important centre of education fro Geluk monks and according to sources there are at least four hundred monks there. The monastery is also known as the residence of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee who has been living in the US since last two years. Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Dharamshala, including the Gyuto Monastery and the main Temple at His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s residence in McLeod Ganj has been shut for public since March last year.
Photo by Ben Perek | Flickr
Leave a Reply