GUWAHATI: Places of worship are now open as a part of Unlock 1.0. However, religious places/places of worship for the public in containment zones shall remain closed.
Only those outside containment zones are allowed to open up.
Religious places/places of worship are visited by a large number of people seeking spiritual solace.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection, it is important that mandatory social distancing protocols and other preventive measures are followed at such places.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has issued certain guidelines to be followed by people in religious places.
Here are the guidelines you must follow when visiting places of worship:
- Ensure physical distancing of at least 6 feet as far as feasible
- Use face covers/masks as a protective measure
- Practice frequent hand washing with soap (for at least 40-60 seconds) even when hands are not visibly dirty
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- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers (for at least 20 seconds) wherever feasible
- Follow respiratory etiquettes and practice covering of mouth and nose while coughing or sneeze with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow. Dispose off used tissues properly
- Self-monitor health by reporting any illness at the earliest to state and district on the given helpline numbers
- Refrain from spitting
- Install and use the Aarogya Setu App
- Senior citizens, pregnant women and those with underlying medical conditions are advised to refrain from places of worship.
Here are the major guidelines to be followed by authorities of religious places:
- Shoes/footwear to be preferably taken off inside their own vehicle. If needed, they should be kept in separate slots for each individual / family by the persons themselves.
- Touching of statues/idols/holy books etc not to be allowed.
- Large gatherings/congregations continue to remain prohibited.
- In view of potential threat of spread of infection, as far as feasible, recorded devotional music/songs may be played and choir or singing groups should not be allowed.
- Common prayer mats should be avoided and devotees should bring their own prayer mat or piece of cloth which they may take back with them.
- No physical offerings like Prasad/distribution or sprinkling of holy water, etc to be allowed inside the religious place.
- Community kitchens/langars/ “Ann-daan”, etc at religious places should follow physical distancing norms while preparing and distributing food.
- Effective sanitation within the premises shall be maintained with particular focus on lavatories, hand and foot-washing stations/areas.