The Union Health Ministry issued a series of standard operating procedures (SOPs) on Tuesday for the upcoming festive season.
According to the SOP, events should be planned with staggered timings and restricted entries. Physical distancing, marks on floors, sanitisers and thermal guns must be ensured by festival organisers during the festive season. Pre-identification of space/site in each event venue for isolation of suspected cases and cameras to monitor social distancing have been made mandatory. People need to comply with the physical distance norms and wear masks all the time. Spitting continues to remain prohibited and use of Aarogya Setu App is advised.
In case of rallies and processions, route planning, identification of immersion sites, ensuring cap on numbers and physical distancing must be planned beforehand and measures for enforcement outlined.
How will you worship
In religious places, touching of statues/idols/holy books etc. shall not be allowed. To contain spread of infection, recorded devotional music/songs may be played and choir or singing groups should not be allowed.
Community kitchens/langars/‘Ann-daan’, etc at event venues should follow physical distancing norms while preparing and distributing food at events during the upcoming festive season.
Community kitchen managers and business owners of food outlets should ensure adherence to highest levels of personal and environmental hygiene at all times.
Cleaning and regular disinfection of frequently touched surfaces is mandatory in all public utility common areas.
The number of visitors inside the event venue shall be restricted. There has to be special seating arrangement in pandals, food courts, shows that must ensure adequate physical distancing.
Any shops, stalls, cafeteria etc., outside and within the premises too shall follow physical distancing norms at all times. Ventilation of the premises has to be ensured, cross ventilation must be mandatory.
For entry into the religious places, shoes/footwear should be preferably taken off inside one’s vehicle. If needed, they should be kept in separate slots for each individual/family by the persons themselves.
