On February 20, Most venerable Thich Minh Chi, Head of the Executive Board of TDM city’s Buddhist Sangha sent a circular on strengthening Covid-19 prevention-control and organizing the Tết Nguyên Tiêu or Rằm Tháng Giêng (First Full Moon of the Lunar New Year) festival to the local Buddhist establishments.
Accordingly, the Executive Board of the city’s Buddhist Sangha asked for nuns, monks, Buddhist followers and locals to seriously implement the PM’s Directives No.15 and 16 and the instructions of provincial People’s Committee, the city’s People’s Committee on Covid-19 prevention and control. The Executive Board of the city’s Buddhist Sangha also required heads of pagodas and Buddhist establishments to propagandize and raise nuns, monks and Buddhist followers ‘awareness of Covid-19 pandemic prevention-control; absolutely comply with the instructions of the local government in the fight against the dangerous pandemic.
City-based Buddhist establishments were also ordered to organize the First Full Moon festival of the Lunar New Year internally. For Buddhist establishments crowded with followers, they are likely to temporarily close within 2 days from January 14 to 15 of lunar January in order to avoid mass gatherings that will lead to the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
Based on the real situation, heads of city-based pagodas, Buddhist establishments will coordinate with the local authorities to create favorable conditions for pilgrims to visit, but must ensure measures against the pandemic under the 5K recommendation (Khẩu trang (face mask) - Khử khuẩn (disinfection) - Khoảng cách (social distancing) - Không tụ tập (avoiding crowded gathering) - Khai báo y tế (making medical declaration) suggested by the Ministry of Health
Reported by Quynh Nhu-Translated by K.T
