With a sanitary inspector working at the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD) testing positive for Covid-19, the TTD has seen its first coronavirus case. The infected person was engaged in chores at the famous Govindaraja Swamy Temple.

Following the news, the temple has been shut down for devotees. The temple will be reopened only after Sunday by when sanitization of the temple and its precincts will be completed.

Contact tracing of the infected staffer's contacts is going on.

Meanwhile, days after the Tirumala temple was reopened for a drill and for devotees, the AP government has said that random testing of devotees visiting the temple will be carried out. "About 400 people per day will be tested and the number includes 200 pilgrims, and 200 TTD employees. Random asymptomatic people will be picked for testing," journalist Rishika Sadam tweeted.

#AndhraPradesh- AP Govt to do random testing of devotees coming to #Tirumala temple. About 400 people per day will be tested- this includes 200 pilgrims, 200 #TTD employees. At screening centres only, random asymptomatic people will be picked for testing. #TirupatiTemple pic.twitter.com/wY7v24I4kA

— Rishika Sadam (@RishikaSadam) June 12, 2020