Amid scare of coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) pandemic, the administration of Jagannath Temple in Puri Thursday decided to close the shrine for devotees from tomorrow.

"Despite closure for the general public, rituals will be carried out as usual at the temple," Krishan Kumar, chief administrator at Jagannath Temple said, reported news agency ANI.

"Only priests and sevayats will be allowed to enter the temple premises," the chief administrator added.

The temple administration took the decision following the Odisha government's advisory to all religious institutions to adhere to the coronavirus prevention norms.

Several prominent temples in country, including the famous Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai, Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir in Pune and Mumbadevi Temple in Mumbai, will remain closed for devotees till further orders in the view of coronavirus outbreak.

Yesterday, the state government asked the Software Technology Park and all IT/ITES companies to provide the history of foreign visits of their employees. The department has also directed that employees with a history of recent foreign visits should register with Odisha's COVID-19 online portal immediately.

The non-declaration by any employee is a punishable offence under the regulation for prevention and containment of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), said the department on Tuesday.

The total number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 166 today after a record number of fresh cases reported from the various parts of the country. Maharashtra is the worst affected state with the maximum number of cases. According to the date released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total tally includes 141 Indian nationals and 25 foreigners.

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