BackJ-K Covid-19 protocols revised, 25,000 pilgrims can now visit Vaishno Devi
The Union Territory government has urged the institutions, staff, and students alike to follow all Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs)
PremiumThe Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday issued guidelines regarding re-opening of schools, colleges and higher educational institutions.
Coming into effect from 1 February, the guidelines say that schools and colleges in the summer zone areas of the Jammu division will reopen after a gap of 10 months. Institutes in the Kashmir division and winter zone areas of Jammu Division will open on February 15 after winter vacations.
The government has also said that the number of devotees permitted to visit Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to 25,000 each day. However, people with co-morbidities and senior citizens have been advised to practice extra precaution due to Covid-19.
The Vaishno Devi shrine located atop the Trikuta hills in Reasi district was reopened for the devotees after a five-month gap in August. It was shut for five months due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
The shrine was reopened on 16 August with an initial cap of 2,000 pilgrims permitted in the premises per day, including 100 from outside Jammu and Kashmir, as per the SOPs.
The registration of devotees for the pilgrimage is still allowed only through online mode to avoid mass gathering of people at the yatra registration counters.
As of Sunday evening, the union territory has 1,24,506 cases of Covid-19. It recorded 57 fresh cases on Sunday out of which 14 were from Jammu division and 43 from Kashmir division.
There is nowbe no restrictions on the entry of travellers coming to Jammu and Kashmir, whether by road, rail or air. However, visitors will need to undergo mandatory antigen test for Covid-19.
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