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Coronavirus outbreak: Vaishno Devi shrine issues advisory in Jammu-Kashmir

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) on Sunday issued an advisory asking non-resident Indians and foreigners not to visit the temple for 28 days after landing in India in the wake of coronavirus threat
 

Coronavirus outbreak: Vaishno Devi shrine issues advisory in Jammu-Kashmir
Author
New Delhi, First Published Mar 16, 2020, 12:40 PM IST

Katra: In view of the outbreak of coronavirus, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has taken necessary precautionary measures. The board has scaled up efforts to arrest the impact of coronavirus in the shrine premises. 

As a preventive measure, the board has issued an advisory to NRIs and foreigners and other visitors to avoid visiting the shrine for 28 days after landing in India. Domestic visitors having symptoms of cough, cold, flu, fever and breathing problems are advised to reschedule or postpone their visit to the holy shrine. 

The advisories are also being announced on the multipurpose audio system with speakers installed on the track from Katra to Bhawan for creating awareness about the deadly coronavirus. 

In addition to these measures, mandatory and complete thermal scanning of all the pilgrims have been set up and ensured at Tarakote, Banganga and helipad. All establishments of the board are being disinfected, at least four times a day. Congregation points like queue complexes, waiting halls, accommodations, Atka area are regularly sanitised with disinfectants.

Ramesh Kumar, chief executive officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said that dedicated Yatri help desks have been set up at the railway station in Katra, helipad and enquiry and reservation desks at Niharika Complex have been provided with self-declaration forms where pilgrims visiting from coronavirus-hit countries should fill them. He also added that a large number of advisory hoardings have been installed at all prominent places for general awareness of the pilgrims visiting the shrine.

Ramesh Kumar said that as a preparatory and preventive step, all the doctors and paramedics in the shrine board have been properly trained and medically equipped to adopt precautionary measures to treat pilgrims showing coronavirus symptoms.

The temple board has also ensured that the staff and pilgrims are provided with enough personal protection equipment like masks, gloves, sanitizers. These measures have been taken for the safety of people. Arrangements have been made by different units of the board.

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