About 100 of the pilgrims who were part of jatha went to Pakistan to celebrate Baisakhi have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The pilgrims returning from Pakistan were subjected to a mandatory Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for covid after the arrival at Attari-Wagah joint check post.
The testing is still on after they reached this side of the border after clearing immigration and custom formalities. As per the officials, 98 of them have tested positive and the testing is still on the way after the last report came. The authorities present there said that so far 300 of the pilgrims have tested and those who are tested positive for the virus are under observation and it is yet to decide that the patients will be home quarantine or will be admitted to a Covid hospital.
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Over 800 pilgrims visited Pakistan on April 12 as a part of the jatha which went to celebrate Baisakhi. They all were tested before they crossed the border and a two-day camp was organized since it was mandatory for the pilgrims to have a covid clearance from the government.
The pilgrims were issued a 10-days visa from Pakistan High Court to visit various Sikh Shrines in Pakistan. The group attended the main event at Gurudwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal on April 14. The group has also visited Gurudwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has banned traveling from India because of the increasing coronavirus cases in the country. Pakistan's National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) took the decision to of two-week ban on travel from India.