CHENNAI: Two women belonging to a group of pilgrims who had recently returned from Varanasi have tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu, a report said. The pilgrims, mostly senior citizens, were tested for coronavirus infection as they had spent more than one month in Uttar Pradesh.

Other pilgrims belonging to the group were placed in quarantine soon after they returned to Tiruvalluvar district last week. The pilgrims are currently staying at an isolation centre set up in a campus which was disinfected by the health workers. Since the women had travelled for hours with the other pilgrims, tests would be repeated on others, sources said. It is learnt that most of the pilgrims have health issues such as diabetes and hypertension.

The pilgrims, belonging to various districts in Tamil Nadu, were stranded in Varanasi due to the nationwide lockdown. Following this, authorities arrange special buses to transport them to Tamil Nadu.