KUCHING: The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) is monitoring the Covid-19 situation closely before it decides to temporarily suspend church services.
ACS chairman Archbishop Simon Poh said as in past situations, ACS leaders are ready to suspend services in the respective churches if the situation deteriorates.
“Currently, we are monitoring the situation, once Kuching is declared a red zone for Covid-19, we will announce it (suspension of church activities),” he told New Sarawak Tribune on Sunday (Jan 10).
He was asked to comment on whether the Catholic churches will temporarily suspend its public masses due to increasing Covid-19 cases in Kuching of late.
“It is our social responsibility as Christians in Sarawak to ensure the safety and common good of all people,” he said.
Poh, who is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuching, when celebrating the live streamed Sunday mass, appealed to Christians for greater vigilance and compliance to the standard operating procedure (SOP) in view on the increasing Covid-19 cases.
“We are now awakened to the reality that we are facing the highest daily Covid-19 infections in the whole country.
“At the current rate and widespread infection, it is certain that with active contact tracing, infection cases will increase,” he said.
He pointed out that Kuching and Sibu were already registering increasing number of cases daily.
“The alarming and sharp rise in infections have shown that this new wave is more widespread and more infectious,” he said.
Therefore, he called upon Christians to continue to comply with the SOP such as wearing face masks when in public, maintain social distancing, avoid social gathering and cut down on unnecessary trips.
“By keeping good SOP and minimising points of contact, we can contain the new wave of Covid-19,” said Poh.
