Conducting any parade or festival that involves a large number of participants to celebrate 2021 Christmas is prohibited.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has said that places of worship must set the best example for curbing the transmission of COVID-19.

"We must be vigilant, especially with the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant called Omicron in a number of countries,” he said in a written statement released here on Thursday.

Hence, ahead of Christmas, the Religious Affairs Ministry has issued Circular Letter Number 31/2021, which regulates the implementation of worship on the religious day, he added.

The circular requires church administrators and congregations to conduct strict health protocols to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, the minister said.

"The circular has been issued as a guide for Christians who will hold Christmas worship and celebration, in adherence with the health protocols," he added.

Related news: Ministry issues circular regulating Christmas celebrations

Furthermore, the administrators are obliged to deploy officers to inform about and supervise the enforcement of the health protocols to the congregation, Quomas said.

They also have to keep thermometers at the church entrance to check the temperature of each congregant, he added.

In addition, the circular asks administrators to ensure congregants maintain a distance of at least one meter by placing marks on the floor or spacing chairs and limiting the number of attendees to 50 percent of the church's capacity, he said.

They must also provide extra medical masks to congregants and prohibit anyone who is ill from attending religious activities, he added.

"Conducting any parade or festival that involves a large number of participants to celebrate 2021 Christmas is prohibited," Qoumas added.

The implementation of 2021 Christmas worship and celebration should be carried out simply and emphasize more on harmony between family members, he remarked.

Related news: Jakarta's Archdiocese churches to offer digital worship on Christmas

Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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