15/05/2020
To:
CAN Excos,
All Bloc Leaders,
Heads of Churches,
Bishops,
Priests.
Pastors,
In Adamawa State.
Greetings to all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You are aware that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has eased the restriction on Worship earlier imposed on the state following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Churches and Mosques under lockdown can now reopen, but must ensure social distancing with no more than 50 people at a time. Other measures include provision of hand sanitizers or washing of hands and temperature checks at the point of entry.
Government now believes the contagion rate is low enough to justify a cautious easing of the restriction, but warned that citizens must work extra hard on personal hygiene and strict adherence to laid down guidelines.”
Governor Fintiri said the easing of the lockdown comes as the state discharged five (5) from its isolation center after testing negative to the virus. From the side of the church, I want all of you to take please take note of the following:
1. All Christians in Adamawa state should adhere strictly to the directives given by the state government on what people should do during this time that restriction on worship has been eased.
2. There should be no entry into the Church without facemasks. That means, wearing of facemasks to the church is now compulsory.
3. Social distancing in the church should be strictly observed.
4. Washing of hands or use of hand sanitizers at the entrance of churches should be strictly adhered to and Church leaders should ensure that the provisions are made.
5. Each Church can buy one or more thermometers for measuring peoples temperature at the gate before entering the church. If any person's temperature is high, he or she should be advised to go and see a doctor immediately. In this case the person should not be allowed to enter the church again at that time.
6. Pastors and Priests should make the Services/Masses as brief as possible. There should be less singing at Services or Masses.
7. Pastors and Priests with large congregations can organize as many Services/Masses as possible on Sundays to avoid overcrowding.
8. Gatherings to chat, after Services/Masses be discouraged. After the worship each member should leave for home straight away.
9. Christians are advised to avoid crowded public places as much as possible e.g Banks and Markets. If they must go then, facemasks should always be won.
10. Every Church should set up a local task force to monitor the strict adherence to the social distancing in the church, use of facemasks and hand sanitizer.
Dear brothers and sisters all these precautionary measures are meant to help us stay alive. They are not meant deliberately to inconvenience anybody. Corona virus is real. I urge all of you to strictly adhere faithfully and joyfully, so that we will not be infected by this dreaded pandemic disease. We should also intensify our prayers to God for the discovery of cure and vaccine for this virus.
Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza
Catholic Bishop of Yola
CAN Chairman Adamawa State
Copy to all Bloc Leaders
