The Assam health and family welfare department on Friday notified Covid-appropriate guidelines for the upcoming Bohag Bihu and other festivals in the state in view of the fresh spike of coronavirus cases in many parts of the country.

The notification said the event organisers are to seek permission from the district administration concerned for organising any event resulting in public gathering. It said all programmes /festival /events should conclude by 11pm and all the organisers and volunteers involved in the organisation of functions and festivals must test themselves for Covid-19 three days prior to and after the event.

It said every participant is to be screened for fever using thermal scanners and anyone with higher temperature than normal may be advised to report to the nearest health facility for testing and should not be allowed to enter the event area.

Use of mask and hand sanitiser has been made compulsory for visitors/organisers, besides keeping hand sanitiser at the entry gate and other areas, including parking lot. The guidelines also included sanitising the event area twice daily — once before the crowd gathers and again after they leave the venue.

The guidelines also mandated that the organisers mention the number of people likely to gather at the proposed event to avoid crowding at all cost.