New Delhi (NVI): The Union Health Ministry today released guidelines on preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 infection during festivity events like religious worship, fairs, rallies, exhibitions, cultural functions, processions etc.
In the new SOP, the Ministry has specifically underlined that no festivity events will be allowed in containment zones.
“Festive events shall be permitted only outside the Containment Zones. Organisers, staff and visitors from Containment Zones shall not be permitted. People residing inside Containment Zones may be encouraged to observe all festivals inside their homes and not move out,” the Health Ministry said in its latest guidelines issued today.
Under the SOP, persons above 65 years of age, persons with comorbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home. “This applies to event managers and staff as well,” the Health Ministry said.
The new guidelines are under the Unlock 5 phase under which the Covid-19 lockdown has been extended to October 31.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had issued Unlock 5 guidelines on September 30.
In its guidelines issued today, the Health Ministry said that the festivals, fairs, rallies, exhibitions, cultural functions, processions and concerts associated with the festivities are mass events and advised the administrative requirement such as identification of spatial boundaries and preparation of a detailed site plan in compliance with thermal screening, physical distancing, sanitisation etc.
“In case of events that run for days or weeks, the crowd density doesn’t remain the same throughout and usually peaks around certain hours of the day and some previously known auspicious days. Planning for the event should specifically factor this so that crowds are regulated and managed to ensure physical distance and frequent sanitisation,” the guidelines read.
In case of rallies and immersion processions, the number of people should not exceed the prescribed limit and proper physical distancing and wearing of masks must be ensured. In any case, the number of such rallies and the distance covered by them may be kept within manageable limits, it said.
Events such as rallies, and processions spread over long distances would require support of ambulance services. Events planned to last for many days or weeks such as exhibitions, fairs, puja pandals, Ramlila pandals or concerts and plays should have adequate measures to ensure a cap on physical numbers, the ministry said.
“Staggered timings and restricted entry may be considered. Volunteers should be appropriately stationed to ensure thermal scanning, physical distancing and wearing of masks. The guidelines issued for theatre and cinema artists will apply to stage performers. Adequate supplies of sanitisers, thermal guns and physical distancing floor markings to be ensured,” read the SOP.
In addition to this, close circuit cameras would be considered to monitor compliance of physical distance norms, wearing of masks at each venue. “In case of rallies and processions, route planning, identification of immersion sites, ensuring cap on numbers, physical distancing etc. must be planned beforehand and measures for enforcement outlined.”
-ARK
