Shopping malls and places of worship across the country,  barring states like Maharashtra and Goa, are ready to open their doors to people from Monday after remaining closed for about two and a half months due to the lockdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), malls, hotels, restaurants, and places of worship can open from June 8 as part of phase I of the " unlockdown".

In addition, coming up with their lists of dos and don’ts for the people, authorities have ensured that premises of religious places, restaurants, malls have been cleaned and provisions for adherence to social distancing and other protocols being made.

While entry to religious places and shopping malls must have hand sanitizer dispensers and thermal screening provisions, not more than 50 percent of seating capacity going to be permitted at food courts and restaurants, according to the guidelines. Instead of dine-ins, the SOPs call for takeaways to be encouraged.

 Moreover, the Union Culture Ministry has approved the opening of 820 Archaeological surveys of India-protected monuments that have places of worship from Monday. The ministry decided to open only those monuments among the over 3,000 ASI-maintained monuments where religious events take places, such as Nila at Hauz Khas enclave, the Qutub archaeological area, and Lal Gumbad in Delhi.

Source: The Indian Express

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