As Churches in the country gear up to open due to the ease of the lockdown, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has issued out conditions to be met for safe reopening.
The Federal government imposed lockdown was relaxed further by President Muhammadu Buhari, allowing for the restricted reopening of churches and mosques in the country. This was announced by the Chairman of the presidential task force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha during the briefing in Abuja on Monday.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Samson Ayokunle has duly rolled out conditions to be met in order for the churches to reopen and not cause a further spread of the virus.
The CAN president gave the following guidelines;
“That each church premises will be properly and thoroughly disinfected.
“Each Church will make provision of alcohol-based sanitizers, soap and water for worshipers with the supervision by medical professionals.
“There should be a mandatory use of face masks in church premises.
“Worshipers are to adhere to strict social distancing rules; one-metre gap in the sitting arrangement.
“Every church should make provision for temperature readers to take the temperature of every worshiper before admission into the church.
“People with high temperature should not be allowed into the church but be advised to go and see their doctors.
“ 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.
“Handshaking and hugging should be avoided before, during and after the service.
“Churches observing Holy Communion service are advised to use a separate cup for each participant.”
The CAN president also advised the CAN in states and local government to set up a committee in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to monitor compliance of all directives to ensure safety.
