Sunday the 7th June 2020 will be the first Sunday open for the place of worship following the relaxation of lockdown regulations to allow religious gatherings.
This is the day on which the focus will be on the churches to see which ones will be brave enough to open doors, and which are those that will rather maintain status quo and keep their doors shut.
For those that will open their doors, President Cyril Ramaphosa has laid down a strict regulation to ensure the safety of congregants attending the services. Issued in terms of regulation 37(1)(a) of the Regulations issued in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002), the regulation provides norms and standards for religious gatherings.
Among others, the regulations allow not more than 50 attendees and that religious services may not exceed 2 hours with a 30- minute intermission between services. Attendees are compelled to wear masks while singing of hymns is limited to solo performances, or pre-recorded performances during the religious service or activity.
“Where the religious activity, such as preaching or leading worship, cannot be performed with face masks, the distance between persons must be increased to 2,5 meters,” states the regulation.
Church leaders are assigned with a responsibility to develop and maintain protocols on how they will ensure that there are no more than 50 persons within the place of worship at a time.
Health and safety measures that should be implemented by places of worship include screening every attendee for symptoms associated with COVID -19, namely fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, or difficulty in breathing as well as additional symptoms such as body aches. loss of smell or loss of taste, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, weakness or tiredness; and that every person to immediately inform the religious leader or person in charge of the religious activity if they experience any of the symptoms referred to above while at the place of worship.
A person may not enter a place of worship if they have any of the symptoms of COVID -19.
The places of worship are further required to maintain social distancing, ensure hand sanitizers are used frequently and that the place is fumigated.
Furthermore, a register with the full details of every attendee should be kept.
As to how many churches are willing to give it a go this Sunday, it remains to be seen.
As to how many churches will comply with the provided regulation, it remains to be seen.
What matters is the life of every single attendee at any place of worship.
