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Places of worship will start accommodating more members starting next week, according to new guidelines released by the Interfaith Council on the coronavirus pandemic.

Services will also last longer, from the current one hour to a maximum of one-and-half hours.

Children aged six years and above and elderly persons of up to 65 years will be allowed to attend services, the new guidelines state.

Currently, children below 13 years and senior citizens above 58 are not allowed to attend service. 

Religious leaders, many of whom are above 58 were, however, exempted from the strict age guidelines.

The council also reviewed the protocols guiding attendance of funerals during the Covid-19 pandemic and which currently allow only 15 family members in strict compliance with social distancing rules.

Under the revised guidelines, up to 100 mourners will be allowed to attend funerals. 

The Interfaith Council on the National Response to the Coronavirus pandemic chaired by Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria said the revised guidelines had been agreed on because of the high level of compliance in places of worship for current rules imposed on July 7.

“As promised in our statement of July 7, we in the Interfaith Council have reviewed the level of compliance and the situation, in order to determine the transition to Phase One of the planned phases of opening of the Places of Public worship.

We have, therefore, decided to begin phase one of the opening phases which will begin on Tuesday August 18,” said Muheria. 

“We have had over 90 per cent compliance in the places of worship that reopened to the public.”

“This is an exceptional performance and example to all in the nation.” In the new guidelines, the number of people to attend services will be determined by the social distancing rule of (1.5 metres) and size of space available in the places of worship, while the time limit for services will now be one-and-half hours, as opposed to the current rules in which sessions are capped at one hour.

Takes care

The new guidelines mean that places of worship with larger spaces will be allowed to accommodate more than 100 persons per service while those with smaller room will retain the 100-person limit.

“We shall especially take care to follow the indication of wearing face masks at all times, hand washing before and after the worship and keeping social distance.

We encourage use of thermal guns. Please ensure regular disinfection of places,” Muheria said.

The new guidelines come as a welcome relief to religious leaders who had initially protested the 100 persons per service, saying they should be allowed to accommodate more members if their premises are big enough to observe the social distancing rule. 

Some church leaders decided not reopen their sanctuaries because of the limited numbers, arguing it would have been difficult to decide whom to admit.

Yesterday, Muheri said the total number of people attending funerals has now been capped at 100 persons provided social distancing is observed, up from the initial 15.

According to the prelate the new number is not too constraining and pleaded with those attending funerals to follow this requirement in order to avoid any infections spreading through burial ceremonies.

“We note sadly that the guidelines in funerals continue to be flouted, and compliance to be way below 10 per cent.

Notably as our President Uhuru Kenyatta referred in his July 27 speech, the rules and guidelines are easily waived and flouted depending on the social status of individuals,” he added.

While urging religious leaders to continue pleading and enforcing the rules by the Ministry of Health, Muheria expressed concern that compliance of regulations in public places continues to be low.

“We appeal to you Kenyans, our dear sisters and brothers, to listen to the cry of those now suffering from Covid-19.

Please listen to those struggling now in hospitals, for whom we now pray for their recovery.

They keep repeating to us, that this thing is real, and we should not wish this illness to anybody,” he added.