Following the announcement of the second wave of COVID-19 and the rising infections in the country, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has issued new advisory to churches.
In the new guidelines, CAN directed that there should be no entry without facemasks and all worshippers including the worship leaders must wear face masks without any exemption.
Also, church attendance should not exceed 1/3 of the sitting capacity of every church and churches can make use of their educational facilities and multi purpose halls to avoid overcrowding in the main church auditorium.
CAN said people who are sick or too old should stay at home while there should be temperature screening at every entry point to the Church.
In a statement by its general secretary Joseph Daramola, CAN noted that there should be no form of direct contact and practices such as handshakes as peace signs are discouraged.
He stated that hand sanitizers should be made available in all the rest rooms while practices that require sharing of materials should be limited adding that those using microphones must sanitise their hands before use.
Daramola who stressed the need to ensure adequate ventilation in halls of worship, with open windows, and doors for air to circulate in and out freely and if possible avoid the use of air conditioners, stated that worship places should be disinfected routinely, before and after worship.
The CAN scribe urged churches to ensure separate entry and exit points in every church to avoid overcrowding at entry and exit points.
“Brethren, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has announced the emergence of the second wave of the pandemic,” Daramola said. “Hand washing facilities and hand sanitizers should be provided at point of entries and strategic points within the Church premises.
“Church auditorium should be clearly marked such that people sit and maintain two metres distance from each other. Every church should make use of medical personnel to assist.
“We appeal to all our churches to observe all the COVID-19 protocols which include the following. We should be praying for the end of the pandemic in all our worships and very soon, it will become history in Jesus Name.”
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