Centre issues SOP for religious places ahead of June 8 opening: Masks mandatory, no prasad

Ahead of religious places of worship opening up on June 8, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), on Thursday, issued  SOP for same. Ministry has advised persons over 65 years, pregnant women, and children under 10 to stay at home. It added that religious places in containment zones were t allowed to open and must remain shut.

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SOP for religious places

• Entrance must have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and rmal screening provisions.
• Only asymptomatic persons must be allowed and entry must be staggered
• Shoes / footwear to be preferably taken off inside own vehicle and must be kept in separate slots for each individual/family by persons mselves.
• Any shops, stalls, cafeteria etc., outside and within premises shall follow social distancing rms
• For air-conditioning/ventilation, guidelines of CPWD shall be followed which inter alia emphasises that temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in range of 24-30 deg Celsius.
• Touching of statues/idols / holy books etc. t to be allowed.
• Large garings/congregation continue to remain prohibited. 
• Recorded devotional music/songs may be played and choir or singing groups should t be allowed.
• Common prayer mats should be avoided and devotees should bring ir own prayer mat, which may take back with m.
• physical offerings like Prasad/distribution or sprinkling of holy water, etc.to be allowed inside
• Community kitchens should follow physical distancing rms while preparing and distributing food.
• Frequent cleaning and disinfection of religious places must be down, with  particular focus on
• lavatories, hand and foot-washing stations/areas.

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Phasewise reopening

MHA has stated that lockdown in containment zones will continue till June 30, allowing only essential activities and movement of people in or out of it. MHA has stated that all activities will be allowed in or areas except certain activities that will be allowed to restart in phases. It has also imposed a night curfew from 9:00 PM to 5 AM and banned international air travel, metro rails, cinema halls,  gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, atres, bars and auditoriums and any functions or large garing. 

• Phase 1 : From June 8 , religious places, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls will be allowed to reopen but will have to adhere to SOPs which will be issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW)
• Phase 2 : Schools, colleges and or educational institutions will be opened in consultation with respective states and Union Territories from July 2020. An SOP will be issued for same by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW)
• Phase 3 : After furr assessment of prevalent COVID-19 conditions, resuming of international air travel, metros, cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, atres, bars, auditoriums, social/political/sports/religious/cultural functions will be decided.

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