22 October 2020
The NSW Government announced yesterday the easing of various COVID restrictions, including those related to places of public worship.
To summarise, from Friday 23 October 2020;
• Under Public Health Orders, all places of public worship in NSW must complete a COVID-19 Safety Plan for each building used.
- It must be kept up to date as changes occur using the latest template, currently dated 28th September 2020.
- The newest template has incorporated the aspects of the different requirements for Weddings and Funerals as well as recommending the use of Face Masks.
• All places of public worship must register as COVID Safe. (You do not need to re-register)
• The place of public worship must ensure that if they are running con-current services, meetings or events on the one property in separate areas or buildings, that the start and finish times do not overlap, to avoid over-crowding and mingling outside.
• Maximum capacity for religious services apart from weddings and funerals, is up to 300 people or one person per 4 square metres of space, whichever is less.
• Maximum capacity for Weddings, is up to 150 people, or one guest per 4 square metres, whichever is the lesser, may attend a wedding service in a place of public worship.
• Maximum capacity for a funeral, 100 people, or one guest per 4 square metres, whichever is the lesser, may attend a funeral or memorial service in a place of public worship.
• These numbers exclude staff/essential ministers.
• Children count towards the capacity limit in places of public worship.
• Musicians - A small group of up to 5 people may sing together in a large well-ventilated (preferably outdoor) area if:
- all singers face forwards and not towards each other
- have physical distancing of 1.5 metres between each other and any other performers, and 5 metres from all other people including the audience and conductor.
- Ensembles and other musical groups should rehearse and perform outdoors or in large, well-ventilated indoor spaces.
• NSW Government strongly recommends wearing a mask in places of public worship
In relation to hospitality after Masses or other church events in a meeting room or hall:
• a maximum of 30 people are allowed to gather outside, or a maximum of 20 inside.
• No buffet food is allowable. People can bring their own food.
And in relation to record keeping, a place of public worship must:
• Keep a record of the name and contact number or email address of all staff, volunteers, visitors (parishioners) and contractors.
• Hold the record for 28 days in a confidential and secure manner.
• Protect the personal details being collected to avoid disclosure to other visitors
• Ensure records are used only for the purpose of tracing, if required by NSW Health.
Stay up to date with all the latest COVID restrictions via the NSW Government website. https://www.nsw.gov.au/form/covid-safety-plan/places-of-worship