Lifted ban: FG issues fresh guidelines for churches and mosques

The Federal Government of Nigeria has on Saturday June 13 issued fresh guidelines for the religious centres after lifting ban imposed on them across the country.

Onyxnews Nigeria reports that the Federal Government lifted the ban on religious and other public gatherings to check the spread of deadly coronavirus.

In addition to its earlier restrictions of children and people aged 60 and above from religious gatherings, it has also said public toilets and sales outlets in churches and mosques must be shut during services.

According to the guidelines posted on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)’s website, it said before reopening, religious centres should fumigate their auditoriums, car parks and other buildings by wiping all surfaces with a disinfecting agent.

The agency also said during services, windows and doors must be opened to enable airflow while adequate provision should be made for soap, running water and hand sanitisers at entry points.

“There should be no entry without face masks; provide disposable face masks where practicable.

“To help educate on COVID-19, it is recommended for places of worship to have preventive messages from NCDC posted at entry points and around places of worship.

“Holy communion should be packaged in disposable wraps. Drinking water points, public toilets and sales outlets must be closed for now,” the NCDC said.

The centre added that ablution should be done at home and discouraged the sharing of kettles and any personal items.

“Religious leaders must maintain two metres when praying or counselling and avoid body contact with members. Places of worship should be free of carpets and rugs to allow easy disinfection of the floor.

“Places of worship must open only between 5am and 8pm. Choristers are to go home with their robes; hijabs are not to be shared; attendance in every service should not exceed one-third of sitting capacity of the auditorium to enable physical distancing. All other members should join the service virtually,” NCDC said.

Also the FG through NCDC discouraged shaking of hands, hugging and all physical contacts for the main time and discouraged worshippers from 60 years old and above, children or those with underlying medical conditions, to stay at home.