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Mumbai:
Temples in Maharashtra – closed since March because of the coronavirus pandemic – will re-open “soon”, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray mentioned Sunday, including that SOPs to protect towards overcrowding and minimise transmission of the COVID-19 virus can be launched after Diwali. He additionally mentioned faculties – additionally closed since March – would re-open for Classes 9 to 12 after Diwali as effectively.
Mr Thackeray, who has been urged to sanction the re-opening of locations of worship within the state, mentioned he had held out due to the chance to senior residents who go to them. Medical consultants imagine aged folks (these above 60) are at better threat of contracting the COVID-19 virus.
“When will temples open? They will open soon. After Diwali we will create SOPs for this. Elderly people visit temples and they are at risk (of contracting Covid). Therefore overcrowding needs to be avoided… be it temples, masjids or any other place,” Mr Thackeray mentioned.
The Chief Minister mentioned that though the SOPs can be launched later, the carrying of face maks whereas visiting locations of worship within the state can be obligatory. He laid specific stress on that and warned people who these discovered with out face masks can be fined.
“People are criticising me but I’m ready to face that. I’m cautious for senior citizens. If one Covid-positive person is without a mask, he can infect 400 others… these are doctor’s figures,” he mentioned.
The re-opening of temples within the state had triggered an acerbic row between Mr Thackeray and Governor BS Koshyari early final month; the Governor, in a sarcasm-dense letter, requested the Chief Minister if he had “turned secular”.
The Chief Minister retorted that his Hindutva didn’t require a certificates of authenticity and that the federal government would take a call on this matter after “careful consideration”. Mr Thackeray additionally reminded the Governor of the perfect of secularism and his oath to the Indian Constitution.
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