By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Finally, the Federal Government has released the approved guidelines for the religious bodies ahead the reopening of the churches and mosques nationwide.
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Consequently, the leadership of the two main religious groups in Nigeria, the Christianity and Islam, have been advised to diligently comply with non-pharmaceutical measures prescribed in the guidelines and the protocols agreed by state governments in their area of operation.
These pieces of advice were given on Tuesday by the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 Pandemic, Dr. Sani Aliyu at the PTF daily briefing in Abuja.
Dr. Aliyu who took time to reel out the Federal Government approved measures which was made public by the PTF on Monday in Abuja explained that the religious bodies must follow
the guidelines which include:
Preventing persons of 55yrs old and above and those with underlining health issues such as diabetes, HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, etc, from attending churches and mosques.
Other measures the religious worship centers should observe are:
Provision of Handwashing equipment with running water and hand sanitizers for worshippers,
Temperature checks on all the worshippers.
Also, the leadership of religious worship centers must ensure that Physical Distancing is strictly observed even as the worship centers must keep their windows and doors open for cross ventilation.
More importantly, worshippers must wear Face Masks while members of the same family are encouraged to seat together
And volunteers or stewards should not be above 55 years old.
Dr. Aliyu also said that church services and muslim worship hours will be from 5am to 6pm only just as services must not exceed one hour period for both churches and mosques.
The National Coordinator also stated that Children Services, Night Vigils and other gatherings at worship centers are banned for now.
