NCDC issues new guidelines on re-opening of churches, mosques

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued new guidelines for places of worship in the country.

A statement from the centre yesterday said the guidelines were developed following a review of the recent restriction by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

• From COVID-19 to rape pandemic?
• COVID-19: Nigeria to hold passports for 2 weeks

The NCDC offered the following guidelines to reduce the risk of infection in places of worship:

• There should be no entry without facemasks.
• All attendees and religious leaders must wear a face mask,
• People who are sick should not go to places of worship
• There should be temperature screening on entry
• Hand washing facilities and hand sanitizers should be provided at points of entries and strategic points
• Attendance at religious settings should not exceed 1/3 of sitting capacity
• Religious centres should be clearly marked such that people sit and maintain two metres distance from each other
• There should be no form of direct contact, practices such as handshakes as peace signs are discouraged
• Practices that require sharing of materials should be limited, for example, ablution should be performed at home,
• Religious centres should be disinfected routinely, before and after worship