Amid spurt in Covid cases, Odisha caps number of wedding attendees further

Bhubaneswar: In view of non-adherence to Covid appropriate behavior and protocols during marriage and funeral related gatherings, the Odisha government today further capped the number attendees at such functions.

While issuing fresh guidelines, the Special Relief Commissioner’s office today stated maximum 200 persons will be allowed to attend marriage and related gatherings. Earlier, the government allowed maximum 500 persons at marriage functions.

Similarly, maximum 50 persons will be allowed to attend funeral and last rites related gatherings. The State government in its previous order allowed maximum 500 persons to attend such occasions.

The new order of the SRC office comes into effect from March 26, 2021.

In closed spaces, the attendance will be maximum 50% of the hall capacity subject to the new ceilings. In open spaces, appropriate number of persons should be allowed keeping in view the ground/open space size to ensure physical distancing norms could be maintained.

Wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing and provision of thermal scanning and use of hand wash or sanitiser are mandatory at such functions.

The host of the marriage or funeral function shall make necessary arrangement for checking at the entry point and ensure wearing of masks by the guests and others during the entire duration of their participation. Host shall make arrangement to provide masks to those who have not come with appropriate mask, the guideline read.

District Collectors, SPs and Municipal Commissioners, and Commissionerate of Police were directed to ensure implementation of the new guidelines.

It further stated anyone found violating the order will be punished under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2005 and other relevant laws.