Coronavirus: Churches to match NSW limits for pubs and cafes

Up to 50 people will be permitted to attend funerals and places of worship from Monday, and up to 20 people will be able to attend weddings in NSW.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: AAP

Up to 50 people will be permitted to attend funerals and places of worship from Monday, and up to 20 people will be able to attend weddings, under a further easing of social restrictions to be announced by the NSW government on Friday.

The decision to lift restrictions for funerals and religious services will bring both into line with restaurants and bars, although NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said congregants would need to continue abiding by a strict 4sq m rule and other guidelines to prevent a re-emergence of infections.

“It is crucial that worshippers remember to follow health ­advice,” Ms Berejiklian said. “This is particularly important for ­people with comorbidities aged over 65 and people aged over 70.”

Religious leaders have been calling on the Premier to ease these restrictions and argued that their faith-based services should be considered essential during the pandemic crisis. These services have been limited to congre­gations of just 10 worshippers at a time; restrictions on funerals are currently limited to 20 people, or 30 if they are gathered outdoors.

Health officials voiced their concerns about church services in particular this week during a conference call with members of parliament, citing their tendency to use choirs, which poses a risk to congregants through droplets travelling through the air.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said this had been a problem overseas, and the reason why extra precautions were taken in NSW. Guidelines would be provided to places of worship to assist them with the transition, he said.

The guidelines will likely forbid choir services and group singing, and minimise book sharing and the use of collection plates.

“Communal singing and chanting should not occur because of the high risk of transmission of the virus,” said NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant. “Instead, measures such as one singer standing at least 3m away from others would be safer.”

Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies said churches were “well prepared” to welcome back larger groups of parishioners for services.

“I recognise the challenges that the government faces in loosening restrictions while maintaining a COVID-safe environment,” he said. “Our first concern is public safety and where risk cannot be minimised, then some churches will not be able to reopen.”

Measures would be taken to minimise the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak, with hand sanitiser made available at the ­entrance of every open church and the contact details of every visitor recorded.

The easing of restrictions in NSW stands to go further than other states. In Victoria, restrictions will be eased from Sunday to allow up to 20 people to gather at places of worship, where currently the limit is 10 people. The same 10-person limit applies in Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT, although in Western Australian 20 people are able to ­attend these services.