The State Government on Wednesday issued broad guidelines on measures to contain the spread at COVID-19 in religious places of worship that are set to open from October 08. According to a government order signed by Chairperson of State Executive Committee, Disaster Management cum Chief Secretary Sukhdeo Singh the religious places/places of worship for public in containment zones shall remain closed. Only those outside containment zones are allowed to open up.
The order states that the number of persons present at any time in a Religious Place/Place of Worship would be such as to ensure six feet distance between any two individuals subject to an overall ceding of 50 persons per religious place/place of worship. Individuals shall maintain a minimum distance of six feet at all times within the place.
Devotees at the Religious Place of Worship shall not spill over to adjoining areas/streets. Staggering of visitors to be done to ensure social distancing. Specific markings of six feet distance shall be made by the in charge of religious places to ensure social distancing. Seating arrangement to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing of 6 feet is maintained.
It further states that under no circumstance shall there be crowding in Religious Place/Place of Worship. In case those in charge of Religious Place/Place of Worship apprehend crowding on any given occasion or daily then they shall inform the district administration in writing and keep the Religious Place/Place of Worship closed to the public until the district administration intervenes and regulates the entry of devotees.
District Magistrate shall endeavour to regulate the entry of devotees by online entry pass system in case of heavy footfall. All persons to be allowed entry only if they are using face cover/masks. Wearing a mask is mandatory at all times in the Religious Place/Place of Worship. Wearing a mask is mandatory for priests/clergy etc also, especially when reciting mantras/hymns/prayer etc.
The order states that touching of statues/ldols/holy books/bells is not permitted. Community singing/singing in groups/choir is not permitted. Physical offerings like Prasad are not permitted. Distribution or sprinkling of holy water/Bhog/Prasad distribution is not permitted. Use of common prayer mats is not permitted. Devotees shall bring their own prayer mats which they may take back with them.
According to the order observance of no physical contact to be maintained at all times between the devotees as well as between the devotees and priests/clergy etc. The devotees shall not embrace each other and shall ensure that there is no physical contact while greeting each other. Entrances to have mandatory hand hygiene facility and thermal screening provisions. Only asymptomatic persons shall be allowed in the premises.
Shoes/footwear to be preferably taken off inside own vehicle. If needed they shoud be kept in separate slots for each individual/ family by the persons themselves. Proper crowd management in the parking lots and outside the premises duty following social distancing norms shall be organized. Separate entry and exit for visitors wherever feasible shall be organized.
Daily sanitization shall be carried out at regular intervals on the premises of the Religious Place/Place of Worship with particular focus on lavatories, hand and foot-washing stations/areas.
The order does not allow fairs and procession to be organised. Any shop, stall, cafeteria etc outside and within the premises shall follow social distancing norms at all times.
Instructions issued earlier with respect to opening of Baidyanath Jyotiriinga Temple at Deoghar and Baba Basukinath Temple at Dumka shall stand modified to this extent.