A decision to test the Melsanthi and other priests was taken after one of the priests at the Sannidhanam exhibited symptoms. “The Sopanam of the temple, where only priests on duty and the temple manager are permitted to enter, was already converted into a bio-secure bubble. They attributed the pandemic’s spread among the staff to the sharing of common facilities, including toilets and mess hall. ‘No need for declaration’“Just over 75,000 devotees visited the temple in the first phase of the season that ended on December 26. Hence, there is no need to declare the area a containment zone,” TDB president N. Vasu said.

Source: The Hindu December 30, 2020 17:48 UTC