On Sunday, Maharashtra had recorded its second-highest single-day case upsurge as its total count reached to 85,975, surpassing even China’s reported total tally.

From Monday, many states are gearing up to ‘unlock’ markets, malls, hotels, places of worship. Strict guidelines have been issued on social distancing and regular sanitization to continue the fight against novel coronavirus disease. Maharashtra government has also allowed all private offices to operate with up to 10% of full staff strength or maximum 10 people (either of which is higher).

In Kerala too, all state government offices will start functioning fully along with the public sector and quasi-government bodies from Monday onwards.

The Delhi government has also granted permission for places of worship to open from Monday.

Guidelines issued to prevent huge congregations at religious places:

• All the State government has asked mosques to have staggered timings for Friday prayers and also to disinfect mosques daily. The religious places have been also asked to complete prayers in the minimum time possible.
• Churches are allowed to hold Mass on weekdays and if the number of people are more for the Sunday Mass services then restrictions are placed on the Holy Communion.
• In the temples, only devotees wearing masks would be allowed and offerings would not be allowed. Those who are entering the temple premises will have to get their temperature checked at the entrance. If anyone is suspected of having a sickness, he/she would not be allowed.

Deputy Shahi Imam Syed Bukhari, has also issued an advisory on the entry into the Jama Masjid as follows:

• Devotees are requested to avoid large crowds and ensure social distancing.
• People more than the age of 65 years and below 15 years are asked to take special precautions.
• Stickers are put on the floor and verandas to make sure people maintain a one-arm distance between themselves while offering namaz.
• Everyone should compulsory wear masks, carry sanitizers and avoid standing shoulder to shoulder.
• The advisory also mentioned that ablution before namaz should be carried out at home before coming to the mosque as these services will temporarily remain closed.
• Also, devotees have been asked to bring their own carpets for namaz.

In Kerala, temples and churches have also announced guidelines for devotees as religious organizations are gearing up to allow entry from 9th June. All major mosques through the State will remain closed for few more weeks even though the government has given permission to reopen from Monday.

In Delhi, malls and shopping centres will re-open from Monday. They will mainly focus on hourly disinfection of the common areas with contact-less shopping and physical distancing to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infection. According to Brijesh Goyal, the convenor of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) trader’s wing, there are nearly 100 big and small shopping malls in the capital, which gives around ₹500 crore revenue for the Delhi government.

Source: The Hindu