ISKON UK has 21 confirmed cases of Covid-19 patients who have tested positive for the virus, but the temple authorities believe that the number is going to be far higher. Five devotees have passed away already including Rameshvara Das, a disciple of Bhakti Charu Swami in his mid-seventies.
Another senior devotee, Dhananjaya Das has been hospitalized but fortunately not in critical condition.
“Our hearts go out to everyone on the planet who has been affected by this virus specifically, those in our devotee communities, and particularly here in the UK. Our hearts, thoughts, sympathies and prayers go out to all of those devotees and their loved ones.” says UK GBC Praghosa Das.
ISKCON temples in the UK have been closed since March 16th, and all temple presidents and other leaders hold regular conference calls with GBC Praghosa that have resulted in a number of protective measures.
Over the last few weeks five BAME doctors have died off the virus including Sri Lankan-origin Dr Anton Sebastianpillai, consultant geriatrician, who died at the Kingston hospital while treating the elderly. Two-midwives, nurses and councillors have also paased away due to the virus.
In the meantime, on Wednesday 8th April aa East London care home reported that seven of its residents had died of coronavirus with another 21 showing symptoms of the infection.
Hawthorn Green home in Stepney houses 48 people and Bangladesh-origin Jamshad Ali, 87, a resident there, died in the Royal London Hospital on 24 March after contracting Covid-19.
The DHSC said that it is providing personal protective equipment to over 26,000 care home providers across the country.
The number of Coronavirus deaths as of 8th April in the UK stood at 7,097 with over 50,000 people infected with the virus.
