The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) on Wednesday gave a green signal for the reopening of all religious institutions and places of worship under its jurisdiction from tomorrow (August 5).
The shrines will remain open for devotees from 6 am to 8 pm everyday with due observance of COVID-19 protocols. Entry of devotees will not be allowed during weekend shutdown on Saturday and Sunday. However, all rituals of the religious institutions performed by the priests shall continue as usual uninterruptedly, the CMC said in its order.
The reopening of religious institutions and places of worship are subject to the following stipulations:
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Guidelines for Devotees/Visitors
a. At all the time, while visiting religious institutions /places of worship, the visitors/ devotees shall ensure observance of following COVID-19 safety protocols
i) Wearing of face mask
ii) Maintaining social/physical distancing of 6 feet between two persons
iii) Frequent hand sanitization
b. Any person with SARI/ILI like symptoms shall not be allowed to enter the religious institution/places of worship
c. Other vulnerable groups of people such as, person with co-morbidities, old age persons, pregnant women or children below 10 years of age are advised not to visit religious institutions/places of worship.
Guidelines for Management /Head of Religious institutions/Places of worship
a. There shall be no offerings/Prasad/Bhoga sevan within the premises of religious institutions or places of worship. Takeaway can be done outside the premises while maintaining social distancing.
b. Number of devotees should not exceed 50 persons or 50 percent of hall capacity (whichever is lesser) at any point of time at religious institution or places of worship. The management committee can further restrict the number to ensure social distancing.
c. A public notice shall be displayed outside the religious institutions or places of worship and at conspicuous places of the locality in advance for creating awareness among the people regarding COVID-19 safety protocols to be followed by the visitors/devotees/other service providers within the premises.
d. The Management/head of the institutions shall ensure provision/observance of following:
i) Thermal screening facility for devotees/visitors, servitors, other service providers at entry points. Any person with SARI/ILI like symptoms shall not be allowed to enter the religious institutions or places of worship.
ii) Hand washing/hand sanitizer facility for the devotees/visitors at entry and Exit points.
iii) Wearing masks at all the times by the devotees/visitors, servitors, other service providers within the premises of religious institutions or places of worship.
iv) Mandatory testing of servitors, other service providers, police personnel deployed at religious institutions or places of worship at regular intervals.
v) The entry to sanctum sanctorum shall be restricted only to authorised personnel/servitors.
vi) Spitting inside and outside the premises and chewing of Pan/Gutkha is strictly prohibited.
e. Before reopening the religious institutions or places of worship, the Management/Head of Institution shall submit an undertaking before the concerned Local IIC regarding observance of guidelines contained in the order.
f. The above conditions for opening of religious institutions or places of worship are to be followed scrupulously by all concerned. Any deviation will entail individual action as per provision and also revision of religious institutions or places of worship re-opening permission.