Deepavali is a week away, and many are ready for the festival of lights.
To prepare for the event, the Pandemic Management Special Committee has finalised the standard operating procedures for states under the different phases of the National Recovery Plan.
States under Phase 3 are Perlis, Perak, Kelantan, Penang, Kedah, Sabah, and Sarawak. The other states and federal territories are under Phase 4.
For starters, home visits are only allowed for those who have been fully vaccinated.
Religious activities and prayers at houses of worship are allowed, but only for those who are fully vaccinated. Attendance is limited to the size of the houses of worship, taking into account physical distancing of not less than one metre.
Distribution of packed food is allowed in temples, but strictly no dine-ins.
One difference is that states under Phase 3 can only have religious activities and prayers from 6am to 2pm, and from 4pm to 10pm.
States in Phase 4 can have their services according to the time prescribed by the house of worship.
The committee also decided that states under both phases will hold no parades during the celebration, but Deepavali bazaars can open, subject to local authority approval and control.