COVID-19: CAN lists 10 things churches must do before reopening ~ INN Nigeria

As the federal government relaxed the ban on religious gatherings in the country, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has highlighted the conditions to be met by churches before reopening.

The national religious body said it expects churches to start reopening in the first week of June after meeting the conditions.

The guidelines were released by the president of CAN, Samson Ayokunle, The Cable reports. The cleric said the measures are put together to ensure the reopening of churches does not cause a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Below are the suggested guidelines released by the religious leader:

1. Disinfection of church premises

2. Provision of alcohol-based sanitizers, soap and water for worshippers with supervision by medical professionals

3. Mandatory use of face masks

4. Strict adherence to social distancing; one-metre gap in the sitting arrangement

5. Provision of temperature readers to take the temperature of every worshipper before admission into the church

6. People with high temperature should not be allowed into the church but be advised to go and see their doctors

7. One and a half-hour service is enough for a start, with a gap of 25 or 30 minutes between one service and another where there are multiple services

8. Handshaking and hugging should be avoided before, during and after the service

9. Churches observing Holy Communion service should use a separate cup for each participant

10. CAN in each state and local government should constitute a committee together with law enforcement agencies in their area to enforce full compliance

The Nation reported that the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 said the ban of religious gatherings was relaxed based on the guidelines and protocols agreed upon by state governments. The PTF, however, said the ban on inter-state movement in the country remains in force.