Priests offer prayers at Sabarimala temple.
Relaxing the COVID restrictions in the state, the Kerala government on Saturday increased the daily limit for monthly worship at the Sabarimala temple from 5,000 to 10,000.
Earlier in the day it was announced that the Sabarimala temple would remain open for five days a week to allow devotees to perform the monthly rituals.
The temple will remain open from today till July 21. COVID-19 protocols including wearing of masks and social distancing will be strictly followed.
Those who wish to visit the temple will have to provide a complete COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative RT-PCR report within 48 hours of the visit.
Kerala, one of the worst affected due to Kovid
Kerala is one of the worst COVID affected states in the country. The state was put under lockdown earlier in April to deal with the worrying rise in COVID-19 cases when the second COVID wave hit.
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Months later, the state is still recovering from the wave, with daily cases hovering between 10,000 and 15,000 for the past few weeks.
There is still a weekend lockdown in the state. On Thursday, 13,773 cases were reported. According to the Union Health Ministry, there are currently 1,22,436 active cases. A total of 29,93,242 have been cured so far and 15,155 deaths have taken place.
Under the nationwide immunization drive, 1,64,86,091 doses have been administered so far, which includes 1,19,18,696 first doses and 45,67,395 second doses.
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