With effect from Friday 14th August, 2020 the Government of Ogun State has announced the re-opening of worship centres, with the conditions that the coronavirus protocols and guidelines must be strictly adhered to by the authorities of the centres.
The state’s governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, disclosed this in a press statement, as an update to the pandemic, stressing that towards ensuring compliance, a Task Force would be on ground and would be moving around, to ensure compliance.
The governor explained that it would not hesitate to close down any centre that flouts the safety protocols.
He said, “Let me inform our people of the two major issues that have been in view for some months: reopening of worship centres and schools. After thorough deliberation, consideration and resolution, we decided to reopen the worship centres with effect from Friday 14th August, 2020 as indicated in my last address.
“This decision was made in line with agreement reached by the committee set up to develop guidelines for reopening of the religious centres. The Committee includes the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); the League of Imams and Alfas and Government representatives.
“I am delighted to note that reports reaching us indicate varying but encouraging levels of preparedness by the Worship Centres. Therefore, today, Friday, 14th August is hereby confirmed for the commencement of operations of the Worship Centres, subject to the guidelines,” he said
The governor, who admitted that coronavirus has come to stay, assured that his administration is committed to doing the needful, to help all the people of the state to adapt to this new life, pending the time that the scourge will be over.
“Let me reassure all the people of Ogun State that we will continue to do all that we can to flatten the curve of COVID-19 in our dear State. We are committed to doing the needful as a Government to help all the people of Ogun State to adapt to this new life pending the time that the scourge will be over.”
The Safety Guidelines and Protocols
The government gave details of the conditions which stated that: all congregants must wear their face masks appropriately (that is, No facemask, No entry); adequate provision of running water; worship centres should be adequately cleaned and decontaminated before and after services and household bleach solution / equivalent should be adequately prepared for disinfections.
Other conditions are that there should be adequate provision and supervision of multiple veronica buckets for handwashing (fully automated hand washing machines are preferable); there should be provision of alcohol-based sanitiser which must be used before and after service; worship centres should provide adequate toilet facilities with water.
The condition also has it that, Muslims are to perform ablution at home and go to mosque with their personal praying mats; qualified medical practitioners or trained personnel should check the temperature of worshippers with infrared thermometer before allowing them to enter worship centres.
There should be adequate medical support for sick persons; all services on Friday/Sunday and other week days must adhere strictly to COVID-19 Guidelines; there should be pre-designated standing position/sitting positions to ensure not less than two meters spacing;
The duration of religious services should not be more than one and a half hours. In addition, the same duration of one and a half hours must be observed as intervals, where there are multiple services; the use of air-conditioners should be discouraged while worship centres should be well ventilated with the use of fans.
There should not be any handshakes/hugs by worshippers; proper awareness of the susceptibility of the aged and people with signs of ill-health should be adequately created among worshippers all times; constant sensitisation of COVID-19 and its dangers should be included in sermon and goodwill messages;
Provision of isolation rooms is mandatory in all worship centres or facilities; religious services and events should be recorded with digital camera for record purposes; worship centres and facilities with more than 200 worshippers in a given service must seek further clearance with the State Government; at all times, there should be effective entry and exit management procedures in each of the worship centres; and administration of Holy Communion should be devoid of sharing of any item and must follow COVID-19 protocols.
“We are therefore appealing to our people, particularly our religious leaders to ensure that they adhere strictly to the protocols as have been agreed upon. We all agreed on these protocols to open the worship centres for many reasons,” the governor emphasised.
“We will rather want our worship centres to be venues of solemnisation of matrimonies; christening of new-borns; venues of thanksgivings and praise-worship to the greatness of God. This explains our cautious, consultative, inclusive, and collaborative approach to reopening of our worship centres.”
Religious Centres in Lagos State had opened since Friday August 7, for Mosques and Sunday August 9, 2020 for Churches.
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