Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has issued health advisory to ensure strict compliance by pilgrims visiting Lord Ayyappan temple in Sabarimala to standard protocols while trekking the hill shrine to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
As per the advisory, closed spaces with poor airflow, crowded places, close face to face contact among pilgrims have to be avoided and to ensure safe pilgrimage there is need to restrict the number of pilgrims being allowed each day.
The government has decided to allow 1,000 pilgrims every day to offer prayers.
Pilgrims must frequently wash hands, maintain physical distance, use face mask and carry hand sanitisers with them.
Those who have been recently exposed to the disease or who have had symptoms like cough, respiratory problems, loss of smell, fatigue should keep away from the arduous journey.
All pilgrims have to carry the COVID-19 negative certificate with tests done 24 hours before reaching base camp Nilakkal.
They can also get tested from ‘STEP’ kiosks run by the government or private agencies which have been arranged at major public places and throughout the way to Sabarimala, it was stated.