Shimla, July 2
Amidst strict enforcement of Standard Operating Procedures gates of all religious places and shrines which had been closed in the month of April this year due to increasing Covid -19 cases during the 2nd wave have now been opened for devotees, since July 1. Just like religious books lay down a strict procedure for ‘fasting’ to make Gods happy, similarly a strict and clear-cut set of 27 SOPs have been put down, to be abided while visiting religious shrines in the state.
Notifications have been issued by Deputy Magistrates separately in all the 12 districts directing the temple management(s) to strictly ensure SOPs which include mandatory wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing inside the shrines, no entry in to sanctum sanctorum or garav Griha and no offerings baring the cash in the donation boxes.
Medical officers would be deployed near the shrines and every devotee could enter in the religious places with entry in the registers and thermal scanning. If any devotees would be found with symptoms of flu and ILI , they shall be scanned by the medical officers.
In case of suspected or confirmed cases is found in the shrines the person should be shifted to a room area to be isolated from others. Besides, immediate information shall be given to the health officials deployed in the temple and the nearest medical facility (hospital and clinics) and sidewise even the district administration and CMO should be notified the same on the phone.
Disinfection of the premises would be taken if any person found positive. The SOPs to be strictly enforced by the concerned SDM or Police and there should no violation of SOPs.
No crowds and gathering would be allowed in any religious places no physical distributions foods, community kitchen and Prasad, distribution and sprinkling of holy waters etc. Mandatory hand hygiene separate entry and exists in the religious places to the visitors should be ensured.
Circles would be marked at proper distancing to manage the queues. Devotees would not touch the bells, idols, railings, floor and any other surface with hands.
There would no puja, Havan, Mundan, in view of spreading infections recorded devotional music or songs may be played and choirs or singing group should not be allowed. Staggering of visitors should be done, for proper crowd management.
Large Congregations and gathering continues to be prohibited in the shrines. The visitors should not be allowed to roam round the temple unnecessarily.
All shops, stalls, cafeteria etc coated outside the premises shall also follow the social distancing in all the times. Physical contact while greeting would be avoided. Spitting should be strictly prohibited. Frequent cleaning and disinfection would be maintained by the management of the religious places. Effective sanitation within the premises shall be maintained with particular focus on toilets. The floors should be particularly be cleaned multiple times in the premises.
No face covers, masks gloves shall be left over by the visitors or employees. Only asymptomatic persons shall be allowed in the premises. The advertisement materials including posters and standees on prevention of Covid should be placed prominently in the shrines.
