The government religious committee has set up a working group led by a deputy head of the committee for better coordinating efforts for controlling the spread of the nCovi epidemic within the GCRA’s headquarters and amongst its staff, as well as in the country as directed by the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The GCRA’s working group for COVID-19 prevention and control has checked if any of its staff or their relatives had come to the epidemic’s hotspots, including China’s Wuhan city and Son Loi Commune in the country’s northern province of Vinh Phuc.

The working group has also checked F2 and F3 contacts, and identified four of its staff having close contacts with those having direct contacts with people infected with the COVID-19. These four staff have completed the isolation period at their home, and come back to work.

The government religious committee has also sprayed disinfection in its open space, equipped disinfectant liquid for hand wash at its automatic lift and entrances, provided facemasks to its staff, installed temperature measures at the entrance gate, as well as instructed officials and employees to proactively take measures and procedures recommended by the health sector for prevention and control of the new virus.

Spraying disinfectant substance around GCRTA’s office

To avoid the spread of the virus, the government religious commit has canceled the first quarter-meetings on state administration on religion in the three regions of the country, as well as postponed or scaled down working trips to localities. 

The government religious committee’s electronic website has timely covered instructions, guidelines of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and the ministries of health and home affairs. The homepage of the GCRA’s website has also had a separate column designed to cover news and articles on national strategies and notifications for nCovi prevention and control, as well as religious response and contributions to the fight against the new virus, making easy access for religious readers.   

Temperature measurement at the GCRA’s entrance gate

In addition, the government religious committee has issued several dispatches to religious organizations asking them to stop organizing festivals, conferences, and activities with large crowds, and encouraging them to increase online services and interactions.

These dispatches the committee has called on leaders of 43 religious organizations and the committee for religious affairs of provinces and cities nationwide to seriously comply with the Prime Minister’s direction as well as local authorities’ guidance to curb the spread of the disease.

In particular, the GCRA urged specific events to be cancelled, including the Easter festival, Buddha’s birthday festival, the Khmer New Year (Chaul Chnam Thmey festival) - all scheduled for April, as well as the Congress of Cao Dai followers, and annual meeting of the Baha’i Spiritual Council.

The committee has also warned religious organizations against sending followers to events in other countries and accepting visitors coming from coronavirus-hit areas.  

Posters for nCovi prevention and control hung on GCRA’s office building

PTT