Larger numbers to assemble for worship under new protocols

Places of worship across Barbados can have their various forms of services and sacrament in greater numbers.

The assurance was given on Tuesday by Head of the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit Ronald Chapman after church leaders sought to have a clearer understanding of what government’s new directive of three-feet physical distancing for residents would mean for faith-based organisations.

On Sunday, Minister of Health and Wellness Ian Gooding-Edghill, announced an ease in the protocols, removing the midnight to 5 a.m. curfew and scrapping the six feet physical distancing rule, except in cases where persons exercise outdoors together wearing a mask.

“In all other cases, the physical distance of at least three feet will apply,” Minister Gooding-Edghill said, without providing specifics.

But today, Chapman announced that the new directive would permit congregations to increase numbers of worshippers, restricted only by the capacity of the building itself.

“The directives that have just been released reduce spaces from six feet to three feet and is applicable to the church and all houses of worship. So they can now have their funerals, they can now have their weddings and so on at three feet,” he told Barbados TODAY.

“The number of persons who are allowed into the building will be determined by the three feet spacing. Sacraments such as baptism and so on, will attract the same protocols as before, where the officiants should wear a mask and/or a face shield, and those who come to watch, should physical distance appropriately,” the COVID-19 monitoring unit head stated.

Chapman also reassured churches that unlike in cases of party cruises and entrance to Kensington Oval for the upcoming cricket series, there would be no requirement for worshippers to be vaccinated.

“There has never been any requirement for vaccination for places of worship. It is not theologically sound at all,” he pointed out.

“One of the things you might see tomorrow as well, is that the requirement for persons to keep a register of all people entering into places such as restaurants and shops, that is also going to be relaxed,” Chapman revealed.

However, he explained that a register may still be kept for places where events such as parties take place.

“But for the average business, those things will be relaxed as well,” he added.

Leaders of the major religious organisations are awaiting formal word from the public health authorities before making any comments.

The Minister of Health had announced that the lifting of the curfew would become effective on February 14 and that the easing of the restrictions also means that hiking will be allowed in groups of no more than 30 individuals and patrons on pleasure craft and private boats chartered for private cruises will move from 50 to 100 per cent of their authorised passenger numbers.

“Proof of vaccination or testing will be required prior to boarding. Party cruises will be allowed to operate at 100 per cent of their authorised number of passengers subject to vaccination and rapid antigen tests and the presence of an officer from the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit onboard all cruises,” Gooding-Edghill told the country on Sunday.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb