Dehradun/Rishikesh: Haridwar’s Kumbh Mela was attended by 70 lakh devotees this year. The mammoth religious congregation that ended on Friday triggered a countrywide debate that it might have been the COVID-19 “super-spreader”.
Usually held over three months, this time the Kumbh Mela formally began as late as April 1 and was scaled down midway due to the concerns over COVID-19.
Around 2,600 devotees tested COVID-19 positive out of approximately two lakh tests conducted by medical personnel during the event.
“The situation was challenging for us as the crowd, though relatively smaller this time was big enough to violate the norms of social distancing,” Medical officer Kumbh, Arjun Singh Sengar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
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