By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Apr. 23: As India grapples with the second wave of the deadly virus, the Tibetan community recorded the largest surge of Covid-19 cases in a week of 260 new cases, the Central Tibetan Administration’s task force said Thursday.
The emergence of new cluster cases in Deckyiling settlement in Dehradun, Central University of Tibetan Studies, Varanasi and the Tibetan Youth Hostel in Bangalore among others have contributed to the rising number of cases in the Tibetan community in India.
The Tibetan settlement of Dekyiling in Dehradun recorded 184 cases as of Wednesday and is facing an acute shortage of medical workers including nurses, the settlement officer Norbu told Phayul. 30 people have tested positive for the virus and 3 deaths were recorded at Central University of Tibetan Studies, Varanasi in the past week. Also, 15 students at Tibetan Youth Hostel in Bangalore have tested positive for the virus after the rapid antigen test although the result of the more comprehensive test is awaited, sources said.
The Secretary of CTA’s health department and CTA’s Covid-19 task force leader Palden Dhondup urged the public to take responsibility in curbing the second wave of the pandemic on Thursday. “Taking a long-term view of this pandemic, it cannot be stressed enough that hospitals and governments alone cannot win the fight over this fast-moving pathogen. It is up to each individual to do its part,” he said.
Fellow task force member Dr. Tenzin Tsundue said, “The only way that this spread would sputter to a halt is if everyone was persuaded to stay put in their cities, avoid any kind of long-distance travel, properly mask-up at all times and vaccinate themselves or get registered starting 28 April in the case of those above 18.”
India on Thursday recorded the highest-ever daily count recorded anywhere in the world with over 3.32 lakh new cases, and 2,263 deaths since yesterday. The alarming surge has given way to shortage of oxygen supply and crumbling health infrastructure.
