The Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria issued on Saturday a comprehensive memorandum on the precautionary measures and regulations ahead of the re-opening amid the pandemic.
First off, the memorandum stated that all service activities and Sunday schools will remain suspended.
As for the funeral services, it will be attended only by the family of the departed.
Marriage ceremonies can only be attended by six individuals besides the groom, the bride, the deacon, and the priest, stated the memorandum.
During the daily mass, all restrooms will be shut down to maintain the required social distancing plan. Moreover, only 20 worshipers shall attend the mass beside one priest and 4 deacons, the number could increase after two weeks.
More than one mass shall be held daily while taking into consideration all the precautionary measures, as the priest is tasked alone to carry out the first communion.
This will give all worshipers an equal chance to attend the masses through the rescheduled appointments, said the memorandum.
Every church shall set up a committee that includes medical doctors to make sure that these measures are being implemented correctly, while church scouts shall be responsible for the entrance and exit of all prayers, disinfection process, and making sure worshipers are following the measures.
Worshipers must bring their personal items used during the mass such as the headscarf and water bottles, as no sharing will be allowed as per the precautionary measures.
They must also wear a mask at all times while entering the church, and their temperature will be taken at the gates, said the memorandum.