The district magistrate of Agra, Prabhu N Singh commented on Tuesday, 15^th June 2021 that about 650 people can enter the monument at a time to take care of all the Covid-related protocols. Teams at every corner of the monument will be placed to keep a check at tourists, Prabhu added.

Taj Mahal, the world-famous monument which was closed for the past two months because of the massive increase in the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) second wave of the pandemic is now again reopening from 16^th June 2021. Last year, first it was closed on 17^th March 2020 due to the first wave of Covid-19. After a huge gap of 6 months, it again got opened on 21^st September 2020 for the tourists with a lot of restrictions.

Also Read: Here’s What India Needs To Know To Prepare For COVID-19 3rd Wave

However, the historical monument had to close again in Agra as the country had to face the worst health situation in the second wave of coronavirus and records were coming up of deaths and cases daily which was never seen before.

The guidelines about which you should know before entering the historical monument are as follows:

1. The district magistrate of Agra, Prabhu N Singh cleared on Tuesday that only 650 people can enter Taj Mahal at a time so that all the Covid-related protocols can be taken care of and no person breaks them. Everything will be monitored by the teams personally inside the monument.

2. The sanitization will take place three times a day, as said by Vasant Kumar Swarnakar, superintending archaeologist, ASI, Agra Circle to all the leading news agencies.

3. Visitors must wear a mask all the time. The sanitization along with the thermal screening will be done before entering the monument.

4. All the ticket counters will be closed, visitors have to book online for their tickets otherwise they will not be allowed to enter, Swarnakar said. It was also cleared by the district magistrate that only 5 tickets can be booked from one mobile number and not more than that.

5. Visitors will not be allowed to touch anything inside the monument and should maintain social distancing which is very essential in Covid-19. The magistrate further advised that all the visitors should get their own hand sanitizers and water bottles to stay safe.

The ASI issued an order on Monday, 14^th June 2021 that all the centrally protected museums, monuments, and sites will be reopened from 16^th June 2021. This makes a total of 50 museums and 3,694 monuments that will reopen all over the country.

“@MinOfCultureGoI approved @ASIGoI to open every monument in India from 16^th June 2021. Visitors will be able to visit all of them following Covid protocols. Best of luck to all of them,” Prahlad Singh Patel, minister of the state of tourism and culture tweeted on Monday, 14^th June 2021.

India saw increase in daily coronavirus cases on Wednesday after 62,225 new cases were seen in a day, which reaches to 29,633,105, as per the Union health ministry. The death rate has increased to 379,573 after 2,542 succumbed to the deadly disease on Monday.