Worship guidelines amended

After several concerns were raised by faith-based organisations in
Barbados over the guidelines under which they were to be reopened,
some amendments have been made. With many leaders complaining that the
directives being handed down were too strict, stakeholders went back
to the drawing board this week to hash out a new way forward.

Hosting meetings on Whit Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Government and
its agencies as well as the leaders of faith-based organisations and
independent voices in the community were able to come to common ground
after the main issues of person-to-person contact, physical
distancing, large numbers in the confined space and air flow in the
buildings were the considerations put on table during consultations.

Reporting to members of the media yesterday, Minister of Labour and
Social Partnership Relations Colin Jordan took the opportunity to
remind members of the public that all directives coming out during the
phased reopening were temporary. “Every directive that has been
issued, has been issued for a two-week period and we have been doing
this every two weeks. So we reminded faith leaders that the directive
that was put in place last weekend in not a directive that will last
for eternity, but it is a directive that has an expiry date and like
every other one, has a two-week time frame,” he said.

With the weekend upon us and churches and other organisations gearing
up for worship, Minister Jordan said that their contribution to
society was valued. “All of us have a vested interest in the full
reopening of places of worship, but also the full reopening of the
country, because a closed country is not a viable country. And the
role of faith in this country is important to the citizens and
residents of this country. It is important to the Government of this
country.”

Announcing that going forward there would be other directives that are
subject to further discussion, Minister Jordan highlighted some of the
amendments, which take effect immediately, that would be in place
until the next two-week block.

As it relates to masks, they may be removed by officiants while
ministering, and this is inclusive of preaching, praying, singing and
the reading of lessons. Also, members of the congregation must stay at
least 12 feet away from officiants unless there is a screen.
Originally, attending members of the congregation were mandated to
have their temperatures taken and recorded. However, although
temperatures will be taken, the recording has been suspended. On the
other hand, attendance will be recorded for purposes of contact
tracing.

As it relates to airflow inside structures, air conditioning will be
allowed once the ventilation is adequate and suitable. Air
conditioning is also allowed inside church offices once the physical
distancing protocols are followed.

With questions being asked about the streaming of services, that was
still on the books as many places of worship have opted to remain
closed. Minister Jordan also made a clarification as it related to
hymnals and other books, stating that they needed to be brought from
home.

One serious talking point was the receipt of communion and an
agreement has been reached where communion will be allowed once there
is no physical contact between congregation members and officiants.
Options such as pre-packaged communion, the use of serving tongs,
communion brought from home and blessed on-site and virtual communion
from home will be in use. What is of note is that there will be no use
of the cup.

Another clarification was made where Minster Jordan noted that there
was no prohibition of persons 70 and over attending regular service. (MP)