Search

Continual upholding of best practices, SOPs

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email
The environment inside St. Faith Church

KUCHING: The Catholic Churches in the Archdiocese of Kuching will maintain its best practice and current standard operating procedures (SOPs) to keep its churches open and safe for worship.

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuching, Most Reverend Simon Poh said that this is in line with Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) and Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) which is adopting the Ministry of Health (MOH) new COVID-19 protocol and will not be issuing any new SOPs.

“Effective May 1, among the SOPs for our churches, is that, for admission into church, churchgoers have to show their health status on the MySejahtera app to the service team member on duty at the church entrance,” he said.

He added that any high risk individual whose status is marked red will not be allowed to enter the church premises.

“Anyone with cough, fever, and flu-like symptoms should refrain from coming to church, but they can still follow the online mass from home,” he pointed out.

According to the Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin people no longer need to scan the QR code using the MySejahtera app, but the QR code scanning at the churches is now optional and anyone without a mobile phone may use manual recording, while no temperature will be recorded, Poh explained.

“While within the church building and compound, masks are to be worn at all times; maintain space or gap between individuals when sitting in the church; minimise points of contact; bring own hand sanitiser; consciously maintain physical distancing at all times,” he said.

He also called upon the people to stay safe, pray and practise charity unceasingly.

“The easing of COVID-19 restriction by the federal government starting on May 1, and with the festival celebrations such as Hari Raya and Gawai in June, we can anticipate more interactions between social circles during holiday and festive seasons.

“As followers of Christ, it is always our Christian responsibility to ensure the common good and safety of everyone.

“Accordingly, let us continue to maintain these proven best practices we have learnt such as maintaining physical distancing, keep face mask on, and wash or sanitise hands regularly.

“May God bless everyone as we transition from pandemic to endemic phase,” said Poh.

Download from Apple Store or Play Store.