‘No mask, no service’ as Christian leaders enforce COVID-19 protocols in Kano

Three weeks after lifting of the ban on religious gatherings earlier imposed by Kano State government over coronavirus pandemic, Christian denominations in the state have adjusted their mode of worships to align with federal government’s guidelines and protocols on COVID-19.

Most of the churches visited by Daily Trust on Sunday have adopted measures to curb possible spread of the virus among their congregations through mandatory use of face mask, hand hygiene and social distancing.

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Among the churches visited were Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Fatima, Calvary Life Assembly and Living Faith all within Sabongari area of Kano metropolis.

Our correspondent observed uncompromised enforcement of the protocols as security guards at the entrances of church premises require the worshippers to go through the process before entry into the church auditoriums.

Daily Trust learnt that many were turned back at Our Lady Cathedral in the 6am mass for failing to use the protective masks.

Inside the churches there were changes in seating arrangement for social distancing.

To accord its multitudes of parishioners equal opportunity to worship in decongested church over social distancing, the administration of Our Lady of Fatima, Catholic Cathedral of Kano Diocese now celebrate five masses instead of three to carry everybody along.

Speaking about the changes the pandemic has brought to the church and the mode of worship for Christian faithful, the former Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kano State chapter, Bishop Ransom Bello, said: “A lot has changed, regarding the mode of worship.

“You can see that right now, we appear in a different ways unlike what we used to few months ago.

“Now, everybody has a face mask on him or her, which is the first thing.

“Before you step into the church, you have to wash your hands, with soap and water, as well as sanitize your hands and all of that.

“In addition, while in the church, we mandatorily observe social distancing, which was not done before; so, COVID-19 has brought a lot of changes into our systems, our operations and our social life.

“But I am believing God that it is not going to be for too long, that things are going to normalized, by the grace of God.”

He encouraged the people across all religious lines to observe all protocols laid down by the federal government, saying they were meant for public safety.

Assistant Cathedral Administrator, Our Lady of Fatima, Rev. Fr. James Itodo, placed the level of compliance to COVID-19 protocols among the parishioners between 70 to 80 percent.

“We have been trying our best, just as the parishioners have also being, with COVOD-19 protocols and regulations from the State Government.

“The lifting of the ban on worship has enabled us to return to worshiping.

“However, we still follow the rules of social distancing, the rules of the washing of our hands and the use of the nose mask, so as to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

“The level of compliance of worshippers, when put on the scale is between 70 and 80 per cent.

“We have three masses before the outbreak of the pandemic but we now have five masses and it is by the hour.

“So, it is one hour for each mass, so we run from 6:30 am to 11.30 am.

“The administrator, the Very Reverend Father Michael Adegbola, has given a standing order for the security men and the ushers that as soon as parishioners are coming into the cathedral for worship, they must wear their face mask and must make sure that at the strategic points, where we have the water, soap and sanitizer, they make use of it before they step into the church and they have been complying with the directive.

“We have done that also in the church, when you come in during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, that is the Holy mass, we also put on our face mask, as well as ensure social distancing in compliance with the rules that the state government has outlined.

“We are doing that to the best of our ability, 70 to 80 per cent, we have been trying our best.

“Prior to the pandemic, not less than 11 persons sit in a row depending on the size of the pew that we have but now, it’s between two and three in a row, except, if we have complete family members, they can take a pew,” he added.