Health dept. warns against crowding at Sabarimala

The Health division, in its revised advisory on Sabarimala pilgrimage issued on Tuesday, has really useful that the variety of pilgrims allowed to go to Sabarimala each day will not be allowed to go above the present quantity, which is essential to making sure that there are not any COVID-19 superspreading occasions.

Religious congregations have turned out to be occasions that result in a spurt and resurgence in COVID-19 circumstances world over. COVID-19 transmission is linked to closed and crowded areas and shut interplay among the many folks.

Increasing the variety of pilgrims allowed to climb uphill each day will result in elevated interplay and crowding amongst pilgrims, resulting in a spurt in an infection, the advisory cautions.

As it’s, 299 circumstances of COVID-19, together with 51 pilgrims, has already been reported at Sabarimala. Epidemiologists have reported that there’s a 31% improve in new circumstances at Pathanamthitta and a 11% improve in Kottayam and there’s each chance that circumstances will go additional within the coming days, given the way during which folks have been mixing in the course of the native physique election marketing campaign. At least until mandala pooja, the variety of pilgrims visiting Sabarimala must be stored restricted.

All pilgrims are suggested to observe all COVID-19 security protocols strictly and to keep away from the pilgrimage if at all they expertise any signs similar to fever, cough, respiratory signs, or lack of odor.

RT PCR testing

The Health Department has additionally suggested that each one pilgrims in addition to officers on responsibility at Sabarimala endure COVID-19 testing by RT PCR methodology slightly than fast antigen checks. This has been vital as a lot of officers deployed at Sabarimala has turned out to be COVID-positive, regardless that they have been deployed after guaranteeing by way of testing that they weren’t contaminated. (RT PCR is taken into account to be the gold customary in COVID-19 testing and antigen testing has the next likelihood of giving false negatives.)

After mandala pooja on December 26, all pilgrims visiting Sabarimala will even have to supply COVID-negative certificates, with RT PCR take a look at executed inside 24 hours of reaching Nilackal.

Persons who’ve recovered from COVID-19 have additionally been suggested to not embark on pilgrimage, because the lingering impact of the sickness might be exacerbated throughout exertion whereas climbing the hill.

As asymptomatic infections are a definite chance, it is going to be higher if all pilgrims underwent a graded train programme to make sure their health earlier than the pilgrimage.

Congregation of individuals won’t be allowed anyplace, the advisory says.