The Lama Temple in Dongcheng district, Beijing, has been temporarily closed starting from January 10, 2021, for epidemic control. Photo: CFP

 In order to strictly prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic, many places in China plan to suspend religious gatherings during the upcoming Spring Festival holidays.

Local authorities of Ninghai county, Ningbo of East China's Zhejiang Province announced on Monday that they will temporarily close all religious venues and suspend all religious activities from February 6.

A notice issued by the epidemic prevention and control office of Ninghai county said that given the increasingly complex situation of epidemic control, local governments will more strictly plan and implement anti-epidemic measures for religious services. The local government also appealed to religious groups to strengthen publicity on epidemic prevention and provide explanations and guidance to worshipers.

Currently, religious venues have become the priorities in the prevention and control of the epidemic at the grassroots level across the country, as the Spring Festival holidays approach, many people with religious beliefs  worship together during the holidays, an official of the Ningbo municipal government surnamed Li told the Global Times.

Apart from Ninghai, Beijing, Chengdu of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, and many other places across China have also ordered the suspension of all religious venues and gatherings for epidemic control purposes. 

At present, many religious affairs associations and organizations in other COVID-19 low-risk areas have also issued regulations and initiatives to ensure the security and stability of religious activity venues under normal epidemic prevention and control measures. 

For religious venues that are still open to the public, strict disinfection and restrictions on the number of visitors are stringently enforced, and believers are required to wear masks and cooperate with security checks, and reducing contact when worshiping.

Global Times