Which churches opened in Kumasi amid strict covid-19 controls?
Christians have welcomed the opening of churches as scores of worshippers thronged their chapels in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region on Sunday.
In the Ashanti regional capital, scores of churches made a harmonised return a week after Pentecost, a day of Christian euphoria that many honour as the church’s birthday.
June 7 was the first Sunday after President Akufo-Addo eased restrictions on public gatherings because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Churches and public gatherings were banned three days after Ghana recorded its first cases on March 12.
For nearly three months, Christians could not hold physical meetings as they opted for online services.
However, a few places of worship that met the coronavirus guidelines opened for congregants on Sunday.
They operated under strict conditions which included the wearing of face masks and sanitising of church equipment handled by multiple people.
Modified services lasted for an hour each with seats spaced at least one meter apart to observe social distancing, Kumasi 104.1 FM’ Elisha Adarkwah reported on Sunday.
The Cavalry Temple Assemblies of God Church at Kumasi Bantama and the Altar Gate Chapel Worldwide located at Fante Newtown, held services with less than 100 congregants as directed by the president.
Members were subjected to temperature checks and washing of hands before being allowed to enter the premises with hand sanitisers placed at the entrance to the buildings.
The Head Pastor of the Calvary Temple Assemblies of God Church, Reverend Dominic Owusu, explained that they had four services.
The entire church premises were fumigated within a period of 30 minutes in between services.
The database of the members was taken, and each person assigned a number matched to a specific seat to aid tracing in case of any eventualities.
Rev Owusu said: “We (churches) are doing our best to put the best measures in place, but they (members) have to be more careful.”
Not all churches were in session as several remained shut either due to inability to meet COVID-19 protocols or a decision by the churches for their members to pray at home.
The Church of Pentecost, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Roman Catholic Church and the Methodist Church branches in Kumasi remained closed.
Government’s guidelines for churches are as follows:
I. Thermometer guns or thermal scanners should be provided for checking the temperature of congregants at entry points of all venues as necessary.
II. Ensure a No mask: No entry Policy
III. Provision of handwashing facilities with running water and soap and/or FDA approved alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
IV. Provision of adequate waste management facilities (bins, cans, bin-liners and single-use tissues).
V. Provision of adequate toilet facilities for use by members.
VI. Regular cleaning and disinfection of frequently used communal places (like toilet surfaces) and frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs/handles, preferably every 1-2 hours depending on the rate of utilisation.
VII. Designate a holding room or area where a person who becomes sick at the premises/event can be isolated from others while making arrangements for evacuation.
VIII. Regular disinfection of venues used by churches, preferably once every month. For example, fumigation and disinfection must be carried out with recognised entities like Zoomlion.
IX. Trained cleaners with the necessary personal protective equipment and cleaning items to clean the facilities regularly and handle waste appropriately.
X. Provide adequate ventilation, i.e. open windows to allow for maximum circulation of fresh air, if possible, avoid confined air-conditioned rooms.
XI. Display approved health promotion materials on COVID-19 at vantage points to remind congregants to keep to social distancing protocols, wearing of the masks, regular handwashing, coughing, and sneezing etiquette.
XII. Ensure a No handshake, No hugging and No Spitting policy at all time.
XIII. Follow established evacuation procedures (as outlined in Annex 1) to enable evacuation if a congregant becomes sick during the event and has to be evacuated.
XIV. Form COVID task force comprising of members who are preferably health workers. They must be trained in Health Promotive prevention measures, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Evacuation Procedures by Ghana Health Service.
XV. The COVID task force should Call 112 or 311 for support to enable evacuation if anyone develops fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing during service.
XVI. Unwell Persons are not allowed to attend church
XVII. Older persons and people of any age with underlying medical conditions, heart diseases, diabetes, liver disease, and asthma are advised to stay away from church service
XVIII. Sharing personal items such as watches, jewelry, pens and phones should be discouraged.
XIX. If an individual is confirmed positive for COVID-19, all contacts must be traced and screened.
XX. No crowd dancing and waving of handkerchiefs during church services.
XXI. Sanitise microphones immediately after each use.
XXII. All who speak/sing in churches (including Pastors, Sunday school teachers, Singers and Announcers) must wear facemask during service.
XXIII. Discourage singing in groups. Pre-recorded songs or solos should be used.
XXIV. Pre-packaged communion bread and wine should be picked up by members at the point of entry.
XXV. Place offering bowls at the entrance and exit points for members to give offerings and tithes when entering or on their way out of church premises. Encourage cash transfers via mobile money or mobile banking as forms of giving offerings.
XXVI. In observance of social distancing protocols, laying on of hands should not be allowed.
XXVII. Spend at least 5 minutes of church service time to educate church members on Covid-19.
XXVIII. Provide separate sitting areas for the aged and for families that are together.
XXIX. The church is encouraged to mobilise resources to help individuals in need, including offering church health facilities.
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