Two priests who attended a gathering, father Bijumon (52) and Rev Shine B Raj (43) died last week after contracting Covid-19. A retreat was held between april 13-17, a period when kerala was seeing average cases with a test positivity rate of 20 per cent. This CSI retreat has become a sensation on news for the most recklessness during the pandemic. Last year, at the beginning of the first wave, a congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat in New delhi caused a spike in cases. It is believed around 40 priests are undergoing treatment at the CSI Medical college Hospital in Karakonam. The kerala police have begun an investigation into a religious retreat held in the hill town of Munnar in the idukki district last month that violated pandemic guidelines and appears to have resulted in the death of two priests from Covid-19 last week, with about 100 more participants testing positive.
The incident has been described as "unfortunate" by chief minister pinarayi vijayan, who has asked district authorities to conduct an investigation. “In such a dire situation, such an incident should not have occurred.” The retreat took place from april 13 to 17, during which time kerala was experiencing an average number of cases with a 20% test positivity score.
According to local media, desperate attempts are being made to conceal the incident. According to Jacob Mathew, a member of the Joint christian Council, a reformist organisation, the event was conducted without authorization, and even though permission had been granted, more than 50 participants are not permitted in the current pandemic situation. It was also held during the implementation of Covid.-19 prohibitions.
The incident has been described as "unfortunate" by chief minister pinarayi vijayan, who has asked district authorities to conduct an investigation. “In such a dire situation, such an incident should not have occurred.” The retreat took place from april 13 to 17, during which time kerala was experiencing an average number of cases with a 20% test positivity score.
According to local media, desperate attempts are being made to conceal the incident. According to Jacob Mathew, a member of the Joint christian Council, a reformist organisation, the event was conducted without authorization, and even though permission had been granted, more than 50 participants are not permitted in the current pandemic situation. It was also held during the implementation of Covid.-19 prohibitions.
