ISKCON temple in UP's Vrindavan sealed after 22 members test positive for Covid-19; Janmashtami celebrations cancelled

AGRA: On the eve of Janmashtami, Vrindavan’s ISKCON temple was sealed on Tuesday after 22 of its members tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday evening. Following this Janmashtami celebrations have been cancelled at the temple this year.
Confirming this ISKCON spokesperson in Vrindavan, Saurabh Das said that three heads of departments of different wings were among the 22 who tested Covid positive, hence the temple management had decided not to celebrate Janmashtami festival this year.
ISKCON officials said that samples of 420 people were taken for testing and of these, 22 were found positive. Out of the 22, 12 are brahamacharis who stay in ISKCON’s Vani ashram and others are congregation members, who stay outside the premises.
All of them have been isolated in different premises of ISKCON, said Das, adding that a team of doctors is monitoring their health. He said that another test will be conducted on them after 10 days to check their status.
According to sources, many ISKCON members had gone to West Bengal to attend the cremation of saint Bhakticharu maharaj. Two of them had tested positive for Covid-19 after their return just 15 days ago. Hence, the health department had taken samples of all members and nearly two dozen were found positive on Monday evening.