Karnataka Govt’s guidelines to prevent COVID-19 spread during festivals
As the state braces to welcome the festive season amidst the ongoing pandemic, the Karnataka government on Tuesday issued a series of guidelines, more like Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), to contain the spread of COVID-19 spread during the festivals.
With festivals such as Navaratri, Durga Puja, Diwali, and Christmas comes large gatherings of people in public places for religious worship, rallies, cultural functions and processions. In fact, this is quite unavoidable and thus, laying out preventive measures is the need of the hour to contain the virus spread.
According to the festive guidelines,
- Organisers of fairs, rallies, exhibitions, cultural functions or concerts and processions must prepare a detailed site plan and ensure thermal screening, physical distancing and sanitization are in place and is adhered to.
- These festive events including religious worship that calls for large gatherings will not be allowed in containment zones.
- People living in containment zones will not be permitted to visit religious functions.
- Senior citizens aged above 65 years, children below 10 years, pregnant women and people with comorbidities are advised to stay at home.
- Events that will last for days or weeks must ensure a cap on the number of participants with staggered timings and restricted entry.
- Organisers must ensure availability of enough sanitizers and thermal guns; the floors should be marked to ensure physical distancing to prevent infection.
- The guidelines issued for theatre and cinema artists shall also apply to stage performers.
- During rallies and immersion processions, the number of participants should be limited. Social distancing and wearing of mask are compulsory.
- Close circuit cameras must be installed to monitor compliance of norms such as physical distancing and wearing of mask.
- Individuals must always maintain six-feet distance in public places and venues and wear a mask.
- Spitting is strictly prohibited.
- Organisers can make provision for contactless payments.
- In religious places, touching of idols and holy books are banned. Recorded devotional music/ songs to be played to avoid choirs or singing groups.
- Physical distancing norms and wearing of masks in community kitchen should be followed while preparing and distributing food.
Though the best and safest thing to do is to avoid crowded places as much as possible to contain the spread of COVID-19, in case, you are planning to be part of festival events like fairs, exhibitions, or religious worships, make sure you are safe by strictly adhering to these guidelines.
Moreover, always carry your own hand sanitizer. It is important to take personal responsibility for your own safety as well as the safety of others around you. In case, you see anyone violating the above rules, make sure you inform the authorities. Avoid eating out as much as possible, especially, not from a place that is visited by hundreds of people.
Make sure that after you reach home, you wash your hands, face, and feet thoroughly with water and soap and sanitize before meeting any of your family members.
Comment below to let us know what you feel about these guidelines or visit www.nobrokerhood.com to see how we can help you stay COVID safe in your society.