As the Covid-19 pandemic spread across countries, authorities and churches are reaching various agreement on whether to open churches for gathering or close their doors to contain the spread of the disease.
In Nigeria, early in June, the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 lifted the restriction on religious gathering, with outline guidelines for operation.
With these opening, record cases of the disease has continued to soar in Nigeria. But two states, Lagos and Ogun states insisted that churches and other religious gathering would remain closed in the face of increase cases.
The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while making the announcement said, “We are now hereby suspending, with immediate effect, the plan to re-open religious houses and places of worship in Lagos State, until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and continue to base our decision-making on data modelling; as well as on the responsibility we have to act in a manner that ensures the protection of all of you the people of Lagos State.”
The state remains the epicenter of the pandemic in the country with over 7000 confirmed cases.
The Ogun state government, on its part said, “Consequently, we are confronted with two choices — yield to the demand of those who want the restrictions to be further relaxed or even completely removed, even if this is at variance with the dictates of incontrovertible data analysis and scientific opinion; or tow the path that preserves public health and safety, even if not so popular.”
The state which borders Lagos State has 586 confirmed cases.
In other parts of the world, church services had to be suspended after about 100 new cases we recorded and traced to a church in Germany. In Bremerhaven, a man had died after becoming infected with COVID-19 at a Pentecost service. The increase in the number of cases in Germany has been linked to church gathering. In that Pentecostal church, about 112 infections were traced.
In May, when restriction was lifted on church gathering across the states in Germany, they were forced to close after upsurge in the cases.
Experts are advocating for strict hygiene and social distancing safeguards in place for worshipers.
In Nigeria, the Federal Capital Development Authority released guidelines for churches and other religious houses.
According to the guidelines, all places of worship must sign up to full compliance with all aspects of non- pharmaceutical interventions required to protect the public from COVID-19. There should be limit congregational contact times, with places of worship only opening for regular church and mosque services; while vulnerable individuals such as those aged 55 years and above, those with impaired immune systems (e.g. HIV, cancer treatment) and underlying co-morbidities such as diabetes and heart disease are advised to stay at home and consider remote participation or non-contact attendance such as drive-in services.
It’s important that safety of lives should supersede any other interest and governments at all levels have responsibility to ensure all guidelines are followed to the latter.
