Ahead of Rath Yatra, Puri's Jagannath Temple servitor tests COVID-19 positive

Ahead of the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, samples of 1,143 servitors at the Jagannath Temple were tested on June 22 night, as per directives of the Supreme Court.

June 23, 2020 / 12:12 IST

File image of the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha

One of the servitors of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha's Puri tested positive for COVID-19 during mandatory testing of priests and police personnel ahead of the annual Rath Yatra on June 23, a senior official said. The servitor will not be part of any ritual related to the Rath Yatra, he said.

Samples of 1,143 servitors were tested on June 22 night, as per directives of the Supreme Court.

"Except one, reports of all the others came out negative. The servitor who tested positive has been shifted to a COVID-19 hospital," the official said, adding that contact tracing has been initiated.

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Modifying its earlier order, the apex court on June 22 gave the go-ahead for the Rath Yatra after taking note of the Odisha government's assurance that it "can be held in a limited way without public attendance".

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