PETALING JAYA: As Covid-19 spreads across the globe, even places of worship like churches are incorporating safety measures into customs and practices.
Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri said an advisory was issued to churches on ways to prevent infections.
Church members are advised to sanitise their hands and trays of communion when participating in the Holy Communion when parishioners eat bread and drink wine or grape juice to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ.
It is learnt that some churches have advised against sharing the same cup when taking part in the Holy Communion.
Rev Shastri said churches would also implement regular disinfection at church meeting halls, rooms and washrooms.
“Those with flu-like symptoms should refrain from attending services or activities.
“Churches are also reviewing all their activities for the year. If necessary, to postpone some as we do not want to encourage huge gatherings.
“On the individual level, each person must decide how they can best protect their own health without jeopardising the well-being of others,” he said when contacted.
Catholic Research Centre director Rev Dr Clarence Devadass said church members were advised to practise good hand hygiene, adding that handshaking was discouraged.
Those taking part in the Holy Communion, he added, were to receive it on their palms and not on the tongue.
“Priests distributing the Holy Communion must also clean their hands with alcohol-based sanitisers before and after distribution,” he said.
Rev Devadass said parishioners vulnerable to respiratory illnesses were asked to stay home, adding that they could participate in the mass service via the Internet.
Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) executive secretary Tan Kong Beng said several bodies overseeing churches in the country had set up task forces on the issue.
CFM includes the Catholic Church, the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship and CCM.
Tan said if there were transmission clusters in churches or other places of worship, the churches might have to consider hosting their services or masses virtually.
“These policies on health issues are important because we would want to be safe and to take responsibility,” he added.
The Chancery of the Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur revealed on Friday that a parishioner from the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Puchong had tested positive for Covid-19.
The parishioner was admitted to the Sungai Buloh Hospital after testing positive for the virus on Thursday.
In Kota Kinabalu, Catholics entering churches no longer have the shared holy water at the entrance to apply on their foreheads to make the sign of the cross.
They are also only allowed to receive the Holy Communion using their hands.
These are some of the measures taken by churches to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
According to the weekly church bulletin, other measures include just bowing to each other when exchanging the sign of peace.
Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri said an advisory was issued to churches on ways to prevent infections.
Church members are advised to sanitise their hands and trays of communion when participating in the Holy Communion when parishioners eat bread and drink wine or grape juice to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ.
It is learnt that some churches have advised against sharing the same cup when taking part in the Holy Communion.
Rev Shastri said churches would also implement regular disinfection at church meeting halls, rooms and washrooms.
“Those with flu-like symptoms should refrain from attending services or activities.
“Churches are also reviewing all their activities for the year. If necessary, to postpone some as we do not want to encourage huge gatherings.
“On the individual level, each person must decide how they can best protect their own health without jeopardising the well-being of others,” he said when contacted.
Catholic Research Centre director Rev Dr Clarence Devadass said church members were advised to practise good hand hygiene, adding that handshaking was discouraged.
Those taking part in the Holy Communion, he added, were to receive it on their palms and not on the tongue.
“Priests distributing the Holy Communion must also clean their hands with alcohol-based sanitisers before and after distribution,” he said.
Rev Devadass said parishioners vulnerable to respiratory illnesses were asked to stay home, adding that they could participate in the mass service via the Internet.
Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) executive secretary Tan Kong Beng said several bodies overseeing churches in the country had set up task forces on the issue.
CFM includes the Catholic Church, the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship and CCM.
Tan said if there were transmission clusters in churches or other places of worship, the churches might have to consider hosting their services or masses virtually.
“These policies on health issues are important because we would want to be safe and to take responsibility,” he added.
The Chancery of the Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur revealed on Friday that a parishioner from the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Puchong had tested positive for Covid-19.
The parishioner was admitted to the Sungai Buloh Hospital after testing positive for the virus on Thursday.
In Kota Kinabalu, Catholics entering churches no longer have the shared holy water at the entrance to apply on their foreheads to make the sign of the cross.
They are also only allowed to receive the Holy Communion using their hands.
These are some of the measures taken by churches to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
According to the weekly church bulletin, other measures include just bowing to each other when exchanging the sign of peace.
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