Major religious bodies across the island have embarked on sensitization campaigns to get people aware of what they must do to prevent Coronavirus. Leaders of the Catholic Church, The Seventh Day Adventist Church, and The Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches (DAEC), have outlined preventative measures that must be taken to curtail the spread of COVID-19 and prevent infection.
Pastor Randy Rodney of DAEC said the Christian association will continue to provide relevant and up-to-date information to people about coronavirus. He also said the association will be providing psychological and social support to people who contract the disease and to their loved ones. He also called for intense prayers from all church brethren.
Nurse Priscilla Prevost of The Seventh Day Adventist Church advised all church administrators to install dispensers for tissue paper and liquid soap in all washrooms as well as install garbage bins operated by foot in their church premises. She encouraged people to put off handshakes for now and maintain social distancing as well as constantly wash their hands.
Bishop Gabriel Malzaire of the Catholic Church also published guidelines for all church faithfuls to enable them beat the spread of the disease. He announced that the Diocesan Youth Rally scheduled for April 4 has been postponed indefinitely, and that all Lenten retreats must henceforth be held on a community level for the time being.
“When attending Sunday Masses, please strictly follow the guidelines previously given regarding, receiving Holy Communion, sharing the Sign of Peace, the Holy Water Font, and precautionary measures regarding coughing and sneezing,” Bishop Malzaire said. “The elderly who are unable to attend Mass of other services are advised to follow the 9:00AM Mass aired on the Dominica Catholic Radio or EWTN on Sunday morning.”
He also cautioned Christians everywhere that “in this time of crisis and uncertainty, it is imperative that, as a Christian community, we remain united in unceasing prayer with and for each other.”
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