By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Kwara State government has permitted residents in the state to from this Firday resume religious services at worship centres in the state after about two months of barring the services as result of the spread of the COVID-19 to the state.
Children are however not included in the permission as they were still restricted from attending the services while persons above 65 years of age are also advised to stay away from the centres.
The government which took the decision on Wednesday after meeting with religious leaders including members of the Jama’atu Nasrul Islam (JNI) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said the religious centre s are allowed to reopen on the condition that they satisfy certain criteria already agreed with the religious leaders.
The state Deputy Governor and chairman of the Technical Committee on COVID-19, Kayode Alabi who briefed newsmen of the government’s decision said the same was not yet out of the wood of the COVID-19 and that the government was only considering reopening of the centres in line with the suggestion of the federal government and position of the religious leaders in the state.
He stated “We are definitely not out of the woods as cases continue to rise especially because of violation of travel restrictions
“It is preferred that worship centres should remain shut until it is clear that the curve of transmission has been flattened
“However, in line with the presidential advisory and the positions of our religious umbrella bodies in Kwara State, worship centres in Kwara State may reopen from June 5th (Friday) provided they satisfy the following conditions:
The Deputy Governor listed the conditions as follows:
• Worship centres shall be organised (by the respective head of the congregation) in such a way that one attendant is at least one metre away from the next.
• Each worship centre shall make provisions for hand washing or hand sanitisers, and infrared thermometer
• Wearing of face masks shall be mandatory for all worshippers
• There shall be no hand shaking or hugging among worshippers
• Children remain restricted from worship centres. People above 65 or persons with underlying health conditions are urged to stay away from worship centres
• Muslims should perform ablution from their own houses. Ablution spots are not allowed for now to avoid the spread of the virus.
• Muslim women are to stay away from mosques, as suggested by the leadership of the Muslim community in the state.
• Each worship centre is to dedicate a few minutes before service or prayers to educate attendants about COVID-19 and its dangers
• Adequate ventilation is to be ensured at each worship centre
• Government’s RRT shall conduct random visit to worship centres to take samples and do temperature checks
• Government shall hold affected religious leaders responsible for non compliance with all COVID-19-related safety measures in their worship centres. This is as agreed by the religious umbrella bodies.
• Government demands full compliance with all protocols as failure to do so is a huge drain on public resources.
Alabi said that the leadership of religious communities agreed that any worship centre that violates these provisions would be shut down and its leadership strictly held accountable.
He disclosed that another seven of COVID-19 patients in the state who had twice tested negative were being discharged while stating that the remaining patients were stable and doing well.
