With the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala all set to commence its two-month-long annual Mandala-Makaravillaku season from November 16, the Kerala government has issued health advisory to ensure strict compliance by pilgrims to standard protocols while trekking the hill shrine to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Sabarimala temple had been opened for devotees for five days last month during the monthly pujas, after remaining close for over six months. Closed spaces with poor airflow, crowded places, close face-to-face contact among pilgrims have to be averted and to ensure safe pilgrimage there is need to restrict the number of pilgrims being permitted each day, as per the advisory. The government has decided to permit 1000 pilgrims every day to offer prayers. Pilgrims mandatorily frequently do handwash, maintain physical distance, use face mask and carry hand sanitizers 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. As 10% of patients who have cured from covid may be having lingering symptoms which may persist upto 3 weeks post recovery and 2% may have symptoms which continue for over three months post-recovery, such devotees should avoid the pilgrimage.

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