Sikkim: Over 100 Monks Test Positive for COVID-19

In Sikkim, nearly 100 Buddhist monks tested positive for coronavirus. According to officials, the state government is closely monitoring each and every Buddhist monastery.

Thirty-seven Buddhist monks from the Dharma Chakra Centre in Rumtek Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 30 kilometers from Gangtok, tested positive. 

After more than 61 monks tested positive for COVID-19, the Gunjang Monastery in Sikkim has been declared a containment zone before further orders. The monks have been relocated to Saramsa Garden, which serves as an isolation centre. 

Robin Sewa, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Gangtok said, "The monastery has been declared as containment zone that would restrict any movement. The other monks of the monastery and those who have come in contact with them are also being traced and tested." 

As the cases of the novel coronavirus keep skyrocketing and spiraling out of control with every passing day, the government of Sikkim further extended the ongoing lockdown for another week. 

As of Sunday, the Himalayan state reported 324 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the total caseload in the state to 13,132. In the last 24 hours, Sikkim reported three COVID-19 induced fatalities, taking the total death count in the state to 224, as per the notification from the state health department. The Himalayan state now has 3,317 active cases, with 9,381 people having recovered so far, according to the notification of the state health department. East Sikkim has 204 new cases, West Sikkim has 69, and South Sikkim has one (51).  

Meanwhile, according to data updated on Monday by the Union Health Ministry, the number of infections in India fell to 2,22,315, the lowest in nearly 38 days, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases to 2,67,52,447 and the number of deaths to over 3 lakh.

The death toll rose to 3,03,720, with 4,454 daily deaths , according to data updated at 8 AM. 

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