Coronavirus Changes for Religious Gatherings
The NSW Government has announced additional changes to cronavirus health regulations. Additional people will now be able to attend religious services, weddings and funerals from Monday, 1 June 2020. All participants are required to maintain social distancing and changes to traditional practices will be required.
From Monday, 1 June, up to 20 people can attend weddings, and up to 50 people can attend funerals and places of worship, subject to the four square metre and contact tracing rules.
It is crucial that participants continue to follow health advice. This is particularly important for those people with co-morbidities aged over 50 and people aged over 70.
Extensive coronavirus outbreaks in places of worship and amongst choirs overseas highlight why the NSW Government has been cautious in easing these restrictions.
To reduce infection risks, places of worship are required to implement alternatives to practices that might spread the virus such as singing, sharing books, passing around collection plates, etc. Communal singing and chanting should not occur because of the related high risk of virus transmission. Instead, measures such as an individual singer standing at least three metres away from others should be implemented.
Further details will be available in the near future.
Further notes relating to coronavirus