Shwedagon Pagoda allows around 3,000 pilgrims per day

After over 10-month closure caused by COVID-19, Shwedagon Pagoda has allowed around 3,000 pilgrims a day starting from 11 February in line with current COVID-19 rules and regulations.
“As everyone knows, the Shwedagon Pagoda was prohibited from visiting for ten months during the pandemic period. Currently, the number of infected patients has dropped, and the Shwedagon Pagoda was reopened today. Even on a typical day at the pagoda, there were around ten thousands of pilgrims every day. Therefore, on the first day of Shwedagon pagoda’s opening date, the monks, nuns, the elderly, and the people with disability were given priority to visit the pagoda first. Starting from 11 February, all people are allowed to visit the pagoda. However, the pilgrims have to follow the COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment guidelines set by the Ministry of Health and Sports,” said U Aye Tun, the pagoda’s board of trustees.
Visiting time is categorized into six — 6 am-7 am, 8 am-9 am and 10 am-11 am in the morning followed by 1 pm-2 pm, 3 pm-4 pm and 5 pm-6 pm in the afternoon. The pagoda will allow 500 pilgrims for one visiting period with a total of 3,000 a day for all six periods. The visitors are allowed to enter Shwedagon pagoda through four pagoda terraces.
All pilgrims must wear the masks, use hand gels and undergo body temperature checks. According to the pagoda’s board of trustees, they must also provide personal information and keep a social distance from each other. —Ko Myint Maung/GNLM