06 July 

When the Shwedagon Pagoda reopens, three-feet social distancing will be enforced in line with guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Sports, said U Aye Tun, a member of the board of trustees of the Shwedagon Pagoda.

The three-feet social distancing will be enforced for local visitors at the four prayer halls, Shwedagon Boe Boe Gyi and Lawkapala Mae Daw Gyi. When the pagoda reopens, visitors must wear a mask and wash their hands with soap and water. Temperature of the visitors will also be checked.

“The time of pagoda reopening will depend on the Stay Home period mandated by the government. When the Stay Home order expires, the pagoda is likely to reopen. Other nations also have new reported cases. Whether the Stay Home period will be extended, depends on the decision of the COVID committee [National-Level Central Committee for Prevention, Control and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID – 19)],” said U Aye Tun, member of the board of trustees of the pagoda.

Four “Disinfection Chambers” will be installed at the Shwedagon Pagoda. All foreign visitors are required to enter the chambers before entering the pagoda.

“Foreign visitors must enter the disinfection chambers,” said U Aye Tun. He added that any local visitor who has a cough must enter the chambers too, even if his or her body-temperature is normal.

“Entrance fee for a foreign visitor is K10,000. Masks will be distributed free of charge to them,” he said.

Soe Myint Aung (Translated by Maung Maung Swe)