Marshall: 25-people rule to be revised for churches operating in small spaces

While only 25 people can attend face-to-face church services from tomorrow, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Dale Marshall is issuing a warning that churches operating in small spaces will have fewer people.

At today’s press conference, Marshall said because of the limited space in smaller buildings, it would be difficult for the six-feet distance requirement to be met if there is a large congregation.

Marshall said: “There have been some fairly loose interpretations in the past where people have said well you are limiting me to 25 so I am having 25, never mind that my building can actually only hold 10 or 15 people when you follow the six-foot distance.

“I want to make it clear that we are limiting the maximum number to 25 persons, but in those very small church buildings, those churches will actually likely have fewer people because the paramount indicator is going to be the distance of six-feet between individuals”.

The Attorney General also announced that Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Minister of Health Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic will be meeting with all faith-based organsisations around the middle of the coming week.

It is expected that at that meeting, it will be discussed in great detail the various ways in which congregations can meet the minimum COVID-19 requirements and remain safe, while allowing for differentiation between churches based on sizes.

The new directives, which takes effect from August 29, will stipulate that aerobic or dance exercise classes must be conducted outdoors. Additionally, gyms, dance and exercise studios will continue operations but will be subject to specific protocols issued by the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit.

“The Prime Minister has already signed the current directive, and as I said, this directive will come into force as of midnight tonight. So, all of those people who are wondering what their congregation size can be tomorrow, it’s going to be 25. All those who are wondering about the dancercise class from tomorrow, it has to be outside,” Marshall said. (AH)