400 Priests of Jagannath Temple Test COVID Positive
More than 400 servitors and officials of the Jagannath temple in Puri have tested positive for Covid-19.
More than 400 priests, staff and officials of the Jagannath temple in Puri have tested positive for Covid-19. There was a PIL filed in the Orissa High Court. Linked to the PIL, the court issued a notice to the Odisha government. The government in an affidavit told the High Court that it is not ready to open religious places in the state. The temple has been shut for devotees since March. The state government added that the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath Temple in Puri does not have enough space. There are chances of spread of infection if the temple is allowed to open for devotees. The state government in its affidavit said 351 temple servitors and 53 officials of the Jagannath temple administration have tested positive for Covid-19.
One of the servitors said, “The rituals of the temple are being done regularly, the situation may worsen if the temple is allowed to open for the public”. Till now a total of 9,704 people in Puri district have tested positive for Covid-19. Officials said a dedicated ambulance equipped with a ventilator will be provided for the servitors and two teams will check if the servitors who have been infected follow the home isolation guidelines. The Puri district administration will strictly follow Covid-19 guidelines and make masks compulsory for anyone within the vicinity of the temple.
