50 more persons associated with Puri Jagannath Temple infected with COVID-19

Puri: As many as 50 persons associated with Srimandir in Puri have tested positive for COVID-19, informed Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) today.

Of new infectees, 22 are servitors and their family members,19 are workers of shoe stand 9 are staff of the Jagannath Temple administration, said SJTA (Development) Administrator Ajay Kumar Jena.

Though Kumbh Mela in Haridwar is thought to be one of the factors in significant spike in COVID-19 cases across the country, the returnees from the mega religious event are yet to pose a threat to the pilgrim town Puri.

So far, 17 people have returned to Puri from Kumbh Mela, of which two returnees have tested negative for COVID-19. The COVID test report of 13 returnees is awaited and two persons are yet to undergo the test, Jena said.

Meanwhile, the new SOP for devotees visiting the Jagannath Temple in Puri has been enforced from today. As per the revised SOP, the COVID negative report is mandatory for devotees from outside Odisha.

The devotees need to show COVID-19 negative certificate (RT PCR) of testing done within 96 hours prior to their visit or produce a report on the 2nd dose of COVID vaccination.

Besides, the temple will remain closed on weekends for sanitisation as part of precautionary measures to prevent transmission of the deadly virus.