Unlock 1.0: Malls, Restaurants, Places Of Worship Reopen With Caution; Here’s All You Need To Know

Only asymptomatic staff, guests, customers and devotees on the premises with proper crowd management and maintaining effective social distance will be allowed.

Prayagraj: Devotees offer prayers at Bade Hanumanji temple after the authorities permitted to open all religious places with certain restrictions, during the fifth phase of ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Prayagraj, Monday, June 8, 2020. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: As the country enters the first phase of unlocking the lockdown shopping malls, religious places, hotels, and restaurants have reopened in most states of India from today, according to the MHA guidelines. The guidelines announced by MHA clearly stated that following social distancing, wearing a mask, the Arogya Setu app will be mandatory for people visiting these places. The religious places have already prepared to follow every norm as directed and have painted social distancing boxes where the devotees will have to stand in queue and wait for their turn, while masks have been made mandatory for all, including priests. They have also arranged sanitizers, sanitizer tunnels, and thermal screening guns. A token system for regulated entry and no physical offerings like ‘prasad’ will be followed in religious places. Here's a list of what is happening in different cities after the unlock 1 kicked-off:

Delhi

In Delhi's Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Gurbani was recited by Granthis on the opening of religious places on Monday. Various Placards on social distancing have been placed as a reminder to devotees to follow all the norms. Other introductions include thermal scanners at the entry and exit points. Foot pedal-based sanitizer dispensers can be seen every few metres. At Delhi's Jama Masjid, all prayer mats have been removed and safety markings made six feet apart. People have been asked to bring to their own mats. Every alternate row would be left empty and worshippers would have to wear face masks at all times. The 'hauz' (pool for cleaning hands and feet before prayer) has been closed. Pushpa Bector, Executive Director, DLF Shopping Malls told news agency IANS, "We will be instituting temperature checks at all entrances and setting up protocols for maintaining social distancing and staff." Bector said that not more than 3-4 customers will be allowed to enter the elevator at a time; for escalators, one customer will be allowed after three steps rollover, permanent distance markers will be placed in the lifts, so people do not exceed the required capacity. Many churches in Delhi, however, have decided not to reopen just yet. Also watch| Delhi: Thermal scanning of customers compulsory in malls

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also offered prayers at the Gorakhnath temple. He is the head priest of the temple. Ayodhya is the temporary temple of Lord Ram inside the Ram Janmabhoomi or Lord Ram's birthplace and has opened up for the devotees.  People have been seen following all the social distancing norms to protect themselves from the virus. However, Mathura temples have refused the use of alcohol-based sanitizers, therefore the temples will remain shut till further directions. The Eidgah mosque in Lucknow opened with the Shahi Imam leading the morning prayers in a group of five.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is witnessing the highest surge in daily numbers of Coronavirus cases, In view of that, the Maharashtra government has not allowed reopening of the religious places, hotels, and restaurants. Though private offices have been given permission to resume from today with 10 percent staff. With the offices opening up and with some more relaxations the Mumbai witnessed heavy traffic jams at the Western Expressway. The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) have resumed operations from today to carry passengers to their workplaces. However, only 30 people can sit and five can stand in a single bus. Only one passenger will be allowed per seat. Also watch|Mumbai: Heavy traffic jam at Western Expressway

Tamil Nadu

The state with the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in India, religious places continue to remain closed. Restaurants in the state reopened today after two months. The state government has issued strict SOPs including no air conditioners, 50 per cent occupancy, disinfection of chairs and tables after every use, sanitizers on every table, and thermal scanning. There are around 50,000 restaurants across the state, with around 20,000 in Chennai alone.

Andhra Pradesh

The richest and most visited temple in the world, the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara in Andhra Pradesh's Tirumala, reopened today. Unlike earlier when 80,000 to a lakh people visited the Tirumala Tirupati temple every day, only  6,873 people have made online bookings to visit the temple, following all social distancing norms. Only people from Tirumala and Tirupati regions will be allowed inside the temple for darshan for the first two to three days. The temple management has written to the centre, asking them to allow theertham (holy water) to be given to devotees. SOPs issued by the Centre include measures like allowing only asymptomatic staff, guests, customers and devotees on the premises, proper crowd management, and maintaining effective and frequent sanitation, with a particular focus on lavatories, drinking and handwashing stations/areas. In malls, cinema halls, gaming arcades, and children play areas will remain closed until further announcement. There are some states for which the new norms will not be applicable as they have extended the lockdown in the wake of an increasing number of Coronavirus cases. Odisha government said that all religious places/ places of worship for the public will continue to remain closed till June 30. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that place of worship, malls, and restaurants will open in the national capital but hotels and banquet halls will remain closed. The easing of restrictions from the Central government comes at a time when the country recorded a daily jump of COVID-19 cases by over 9,000 for the fifth straight day on Sunday. Also watch| Unlock 1.0: Know what will reopen in various states