CHURCHES TO OPERATE FULLY, SCHOOL BUSES UP TO 80%

Commerce, Industry and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo (L) with Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe listening to the prime minister’s address. (Pics: Bonisile Makhubu)

MBABANE – Congregants have all the reason to sing praises unto the Lord.

From July 19, 2020 churches will be allowed to operate fully after satisfying certain conditions.
“Places of worship will need to obtain a compliance permit from the Ministry of Home Affairs in order to operate. Assessments will be made for each applicant to determine readiness,” Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini said.

Speaking during a press conference held at Cabinet Offices yesterday, the premier said worshippers were strictly required to observe two-metre social distancing, wear masks and refrain from laying of hands.

Mandated

“Government has mandated the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that all religious bodies comply with the Covid-19 regulations and guidelines.”
Under the reviewed regulations guiding church operations, the duration of each session of religious gatherings, weddings, funerals and community meetings must not exceed two hours.

Apart from churches getting relaxed conditions, weddings and funerals also had their maximum capacity increased from 20 to 100 people.
“The person in charge of a gathering, whether religious, wedding, funeral or a community meeting, is required to keep an attendance register with contact details of all attendees, their next of kin and residential addresses for ease of contact- tracing,” the premier said.

Dlamini said the consumption of alcohol in any gathering was prohibited and where food was served, it shall be in the form of prepared parcels.

Advised

He advised people above the age of 60 and those with chronic illnesses to avoid attending public gatherings.
“The coronavirus pandemic continues to pose an unprecedented threat across the globe at a time when many economies are opening up. With over 10 million infections and over 500 000 deaths at present, we are, without doubt, in the belly of a brutal enemy whose waves of attack are unpredictable and fraught with venom,” he stated.

Dlamini added that Eswatini was in the middle of a surge of infections, notwithstanding the amazing strides that have been achieved by health workers and all stakeholders involved in the fight.

“We have unfortunately witnessed an increase in the number of deaths due to this virus, currently standing at 11 (now 13) and 873 infections recorded since the first case was reported on 14 March 2020.” Dlamini extended condolences to the affected families on behalf of government, saying at a time like this, it was easy to lose hope, to fall back and allow fate to take its course.

Devastating

“But that is not what defines us as a nation. We have faced equally devastating diseases before and collectively we are progressing to victory.”
He said this was not the time to give up or allow complacency to take hold but to ‘accelerate our response programmes and consistently take individual responsibility for our health and that of others.’

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