Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Apr 22: The state government on Tuesday imposed a weekend curfew and night curfew across the state to contain the surge in coronavirus cases from April 21 to May 4. The night curfew was imposed between 9 pm to 6 am starting Wednesday while the weekend curfew will be in effect between 9 pm on Friday till 6 am on Monday.

With the state government issuing guidelines to contain the spread of Covid-19 which became applicable from 9 pm on April 21 to 6 am on May 4, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore diocese, has issues specifications to be followed at the Catholic places of worship in the diocese.

Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha

In a letter addressing the parishioners falling under diocese of Mangalore, he said, “Since the guidelines apply to our places of worship too, kindly follow them. Please note the following specifications.

“All the public religious places of worship shall be closed for the devotees except for wedding and funeral services until May 4.

“Wedding and funeral services can be conducted inside the church strictly adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines after obtaining permission from the concerned local civic authorities.

“For weddings, a maximum of (all-inclusive priest, choir, and photographer...) 50 persons and for funerals 20 persons are permitted to participate.

“For the weddings, make sure that the party prepares the list of participants and gets it approved and obtain individual passes from the local civic authority.

“All those who participate in the wedding should carry Aadhar card, invitation card, the individual pass issued by the local civic authority and the list in which one's name is found. The list should be approved by the local civic authority.

“Let us join hands with the government in controlling the spread of Covid-19 pandemic by restricting our movement in public and praying for the health and protection of all,” the bishop stated in the letter.