Kerala issues guideline to avoid crowding at Sabrimala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Kerala, has issued an advisory emphasizing the importance of restricting the pilgrims and avoid crowding in the coming Sabrimala pilgrimage season. The advisory is issued to prevent the potential spread and points out that religious gatherings and church choirs have led to the spread of COVID-19 infection.

According to the directives of state government, the number of pilgrims will be strictly limited. Pilgrims and all the people accompanying them are expected to follow all the COVID-19 safety protocols. The directives also advised people, who have been recently exposed to COVID-19, to avoid the pilgrimage. COVID-19 survivors also will have to undergo special exercise programme and pulmonary rehabilitation spread over weeks to ensure physical fitness.

Guidelines point towards the possibility that there could be pilgrims who have had an asymptomatic infection. Pulmonary rehabilitation and cardiac fitness is desirable for all the pilgrims.

Moreover, all the people visiting will have to produce a COVID-19 negative certification almost 24 hours prior to reaching Sabrimala temple. Negative antigen test should not be an excuse to avoid the safety protocols, as it is not effective enough.