Aug 5 Ram temple event to follow SOPs of Unlock 2 | Economic Times

New Delhi: While religious, cultural or social functions continue to be banned as per the Unlock 3 guidelines, the ‘bhoomi poojan’ in Ayodhya will be held on August 5 as the Centre is citing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued during Unlock 2 for opening religious places.Those SOPs issued on June 4 had laid down social distancing measures for opening religious places from June 8. These norms included that individuals must maintain a minimum distance of six feet, use of face covers or masks are mandatory and large gatherings are prohibited. Both officer on special duty in health ministry Rajesh Bhushan and joint secretary (health) Lav Agarwal referred to the same when asked on Thursday about the upcoming event at Ram Janmabhoomi. Citing the same SOPs, a senior Uttar Pradesh government official, on condition of anonymity, said all required social distancing measures will be followed and the gathering will “not be a large one as it is being limited to 200 people”.“The health ministry has already issued an SOP for practices to be followed in religious places,” said Bhushan. “As far as religious places and how activities will have to be organised there, it is clearly indicated (in the SOP) how social distancing and all other measures have to be put in place to check the spread of infection,” said Agarwal. This comes even as a priest and four cops on the premises tested Covid-19 positive on Thursday.