June 2, 2020 (New York, NY) — This weekend, the Sikh Coalition convened 175 sangat members from across the country for a COVID-19 Gurdwara Safety Webinar, featuring Sikh healthcare professionals and gurdwara leaders.
If you were unable to join the webinar, you can watch the full video below and share it with others in your sangat.
During the webinar, panelists discussed and shared their ideas about:
- The absolute need to follow sound state and local public health guidance;
- Ways to share safety best practices (including masks, limiting occupancy to practice social distancing, disinfection, langar preparation, and more) and information about COVID-19 with sangat members;
- Guidance for safe seva in a time of increased need; and
- Frameworks for considering the gradual reopening of our gurdwaras–while prioritizing our sangats’ safety.
In addition, the North American Sikh Medical and Dental Association (NASMDA) has published, in English and Punjabi, new pandemic safety resources for gurdwaras. To access these resources, click here. These documents include advice on cleanliness, facemasks, langar/degh preparation and distribution, self-screening, sevadaar training, and more. For more specific details on CDC guidelines, click here; to review the Sikh Coalition’s full library of COVID-19 resources, click here.
As gradual reopening continues, it remains critically important for all those responsible for gurdwara programming to take every measure to reduce sangat size at any given time at gurdwara. This includes by suspending large divaans and postponing all large events (celebrations and nagar keertans) where crowds may gather. Ensure that you are following all state, city, and county guidelines (click here to review particular state guidelines collected by the Department of Health and Human Services, last updated May 20), and consider online programming so sangats can continue to engage safely.
As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.