Two Catholic prelates and a Hindu religious leader were among those calling for precautions in the wake of growing scare over coronavirus or COVID-19.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, has asked his people to take five precautionary steps during religious services until April 12, the Easter Sunday, to check the spread of the virus.

Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad Syro-Malabar Church has issued 10-point guidelines for his people spread over five states to follow during the epidemic scare.

Meanwhile, Mata Amritanandamai, a Hindu religious leader popularly known as the hugging saint, has stopped meeting followers in her ashram in Vallikavu in Kerala’s Kollam.