Christians have been urged to continue to abide by the guidelines on Covid-19 and be reminded that the pandemic is still much around even as the churches open for worship.
Some Christian leaders stated this in Osogbo, the Osun State capital while speaking to ait.live crew monitoring the compliance of churches to the directive of the Federal Government on the opening of religious centres. Worshipers in some of the places visited, called on the government to increase the time of worship beyond one hour.
In his sermon, the Bishop, Osun Diocese of Anglican Church, Right Reverend Foluso Babatunji, while appreciating the government for allowing the opening of religious centres, advised the worshippers to continue to abide by the guidelines.
In Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Christian faithful also resumed church services in line with the guidelines issued by the government on reopening of places of worship in the state, following the lift of the ban on religious activities about three months ago as a result of the COVID-19 disease.
In some of the churches visited by ait.live crew, it was observed that the level of compliance with the stipulated guidelines is high as most of the churches provided infrared thermometers, soap, and water for washing of hands, observance of physical distance as all members including the clergy put on their face masks
In his assessment, Reverend Idowu Olawu called on the Federal Government to further enforce the stipulated guidelines especially the ban on inter-state movement.
Also Read: Imo State Covid-19 Task Force visits churches to enforce compliance
It would be recalled that the governments of Osun and Kwara were among those that said worship centres will not be reopened when the approval by President Muhammadu Buhari was announced Monday by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
The authorities, however, made a U-turn days after so much pressure from the religious bodies.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
