Bhubaneswar: To prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the ensuing winter season, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has capped the number of people attending marriage/death rituals/thread ceremonies to 50 within its limit.
In a notification issued on October 4, the civic body said that it will be the joint responsibility of the host of the function and the management of Kalyan Mandaps/convention halls/marriage halls to adhere to the COVID guidelines.
The state government, while announcing the September guidelines, had relaxed the restrictions on such functions by increasing the ceiling to 250. The ban on marriage procession was also lifted.
During October, the government extended the night curfew (8 pm to 5 am) by two hours in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack in view of the festive season from October 11 to October 20
THE GUIDELINES FOR FUNCTIONS
1. It is mandatory to obtain permission for the functions from the local authority (BMC in this case).
2. The person with SARI/ILI like symptoms will not be allowed to the venue/hall. Such persons should avoid participating in funeral-related functions.
3. The elderly, pregnant women or children below 10 years of age or persons with other comorbidities have also been advised against attending these functions.
4. The host of the function has to ensure thermal screening of all participants at the entrance and adequate provision of hand sanitization/hand washing at the venue.
5. Physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be maintained at all times by the attendees. The sitting and dining arrangements have to be done accordingly.
6. Use of face mask is mandatory during the function except while eating.
7. Spitting inside the hall and chewing pan/gutkha are strictly prohibited.
8. During the function, 50 per cent of the hall capacity will be allowed for usage in a closed space subject to the ceiling limit of the relevant function.
9. In open space. an appropriate number of persons is allowed subject to the maintenance of prescribed physical distance and total ceiling of participants.
Police and the BMC enforcement squad will ensure strict adherence to these guidelines, the notification.
