The Health Ministry has issued Public Health Guideline-2020 for festivals and other religious events in view of the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country.

After Janai Purnima and Gaijatra festivals last week, the country now looks forward to the festivals like Teej, Indra Jatra, Dashain and Tihar, which will be observed in the coming weeks and months.

With the Covid-19 pandemic showing no signs of relenting, the ministry has urged all to observe the festivals only with family members and avoid crowds.

“Maintain a physical distance of at least two metres, use face masks (surgical or three-layered cloth masks) and sanitiser if someone has to visit people outside of their homes during the festive season,” the guideline reads.

The guideline limits the number of people at religious functions and places of worship to twenty-five. It further advises worshippers against touching railings and bars, statues of deities and other surfaces and materials that could potentially be infected with coronavirus.

The guideline also discourages temples from distributing prasads and vermillion powder. In case they need to be distributed, the guideline stipulates that the prasads be packed using gloves and they are delivered to the homes of devotees.

Using volunteers trained in public health safety to manage the people visiting places of worship and disinfecting the venue at least twice a day are also advised by the guideline.

The guideline also urges people to refrain from touching their eyes, nose and mouth unless they wash their hands or use sanitisers regularly.

People are also advised to cover their mouths with handkerchiefs, tissue papers or elbows while sneezing or coughing and to use digital mode of payment whenever possible.