ALL places of religious worship are now able to accommodate worshippers at 40 per cent capacity, a revision of the previously allowed 25 per cent capacity allowed in accordance with the gazetted COVID-19 Emergency measures.

Based on information seen by the Guyana Chronicle, Paragraph (11) Section (2) (a) of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (no. 14) would be amended to read: “Religious leaders shall ensure that attendance at religious services and gatherings is restricted to 40 per cent the capacity of the building where the service or gathering is to be held.”

These emergency measures took effect from February 1 and last until February 28; meanwhile, the amendment was made on February 1 and was expected to take immediate effect once published in the official gazette.

In addition to ensuring that gatherings at these places of worship do not exceed 40 per cent, a well-placed source highlighted that these religious spaces would be tasked with ensuring that the place of worship is cleaned and sanitised immediately before and after all gatherings or services.

Additionally, where there are multiple services, there should be no less than 45 minutes between each service to allow for sanitisation and cleaning of facilities. Sanitisation or handwashing stations should also be provided for persons to use before and after the service. Where persons enter the place of worship barefoot, feet washing facilities should also be provided.

Other standard COVID-19 guidelines should also be in effect at these places. Those include ensuring that persons maintain a physical distance of six feet, once they are not from the same household; all persons must wear a face mask to cover the nose, mouth and chin; and, handshakes, hugs or other forms of physical contact should be avoided.

As per these newer COVID-19 guidelines, indoor dining is now permitted at bars and restaurants after indoor dining and the opening of bars were prohibited over the past few months.

Dining will only be permitted, however, between the hours of 04:00 hrs and 21:30 hrs. It was further noted that indoor dining at a restaurant and bar is restricted to 40 per cent capacity of the building, tables must be spaced six feet apart and no more than four persons are to be seated at one table, and each person must be three feet apart.

Just as places of worship have been tasked with ensuring crucial COVID-19 measures are in place to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, restaurants and bars are required to organise their premises in compliance with the adequate spacing and sanitisation guidelines. The indoor dining at bars and restaurants are being monitored by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA); the national curfew remains at 22:30 hrs to 04:00 hrs daily.