Fortunately this far there are no positive cases of corona virus in Tamil Nadu, however, the TN govt., does not want to take chances and has beefed up screening measures at temples across the state that attract visitors from all over the country. The temples that attract mostly foreigners like the Big temple at Thanjavur, etc
are closed for devotees. Exposure to foreign tourists is avoided as much as possible in the current ''virus-scare'' scenario.
The staff in major temples are advised to check for pilgrims with symptoms for COVID-19. "Devotees are first screened and then allowed inside the temple. If someone has symptoms of fever and cold, then they are asked not to enter the premises. This will continue for some time,” a senior official said.
The UNESCO recognized world heritage site Sri Brihadeesvara Temple of Thanjavur, TN that was consecrated last month on 5th February after a gap of 23 years has been closed for the devotees since yesterday. Being a fine example of Chola architecture of exceptional beauty built in the year 1010 AD by Rajaraja I (A D 985-1012), lots of foreigners and also tourists from TN and other states (some people say more than 30000 people visit this temple and on holidays and week ends it will be much more) come here. This temple provides an opportunity for a large gathering of people from various places/ countries to move around in close proximity. If one carries the corona virus, the risk will be very high. So the temple management announced that poojas would be held inside the temple premises daily as per the temple schedule but no devotees would be allowed inside. Post-kumbabishegam, the temple has been witnessing increasing crowd from both tourists and temple devotees.
 | |
| Thanjavur big temple, TN. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ |
 |
| Airavatesvara Temple. Darasurm, Thanjavur dist., TN en.wikipedia.org |
 |
| cartoonmovement.com |
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/tamil-nadu-temples-adopt-screening-methods-to-prevent-coronavirus-814041.html
.jpg)
