Sydney, Australia
The leader of Sydney’s Anglican Church has welcomed a New South Wales Government announcement detailing the way out of lockdown as vaccination milestones are achieved.
From the Monday after Australia’s largest state hits the 80 per cent (aged 16 and over) double dose vaccination target, eased restrictions will allow anyone – those who are fully vaccinated (and those with medical exemptions), as well as the unvaccinated – to attend church under the “one person per four square metre” rule. QR check-in codes and masks will still be mandatory, and there will be no singing.
A pedestrian wearing a protective face mask crosses tram lines in the city centre during a lockdown to curb the spread of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Sydney, Australia, on 24th September. PICTURE: Reuters/Loren Elliott.
Sydney Anglican Archbishop Kanishka Raffel says it’s pleasing that the government has acknowledged the “essential place of worship in the lives of people of faith”.
“Our churches are busy preparing to re-open, although many will choose to remain fully online until we reach the 80 per cent mark,” the Archbishop said in a statement.
“As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to implement government guidelines and make our churches as safe as possible.”
He said he and his bishops have vigorously advocated for vaccination and many congregations have achieved “very high levels” of vaccination.
And on the question of whether unvaccinated church-goers and visitors will be allowed to enter, the Archbishop said no one would be refused entry.
IN OTHER AUSTRALIAN STATES
Victoria: In metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire, places of worship are closed for private worship or religious ceremonies (although services can still be recorded or broadcast live from the place of worship for viewing online), but may open for permitted weddings or funerals (for example, end of life or deportation reasons) with restrictions and strict limits on the number of people who can attend. Restrictions are less in other regional areas.
Queensland: Places of worship may have one person per two square metres.
Western Australia: Places of worship can operate at full capacity, but worshippers must stay 1.5 metres apart from people they don’t live with.
South Australia: One person per two square metres if seated and standing; people can sing if they wear a mask and worshippers must wear a mask indoors.
Tasmania: The total number of people at each premises can’t exceed one person per two square metres.
Northern Territory: Places used for religious worship are open.
ACT: Onsite religious gatherings and ceremonies are not allowed. People are not allowed to gather at a place of worship.
Source: www.healthdirect.gov.au
“In many places the number of unvaccinated people may not be large, but we have an important responsibility to ensure no-one is left behind and our churches are open, and safe, for all,” he said.
In a statement, a spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said the archdiocese was “very grateful that the Premier has recognised that for people of faith, worship is more like an essential service than a recreation”.
“We now eagerly look forward to the opportunity to gather once more to celebrate our faith and give thanks to God,” the spokesman said.
“To ensure that as many of the faithful as possible can return to the celebration of Mass, Archbishop Anthony Fisher has decided that our churches will reopen once 80 per cent of NSW residents are fully vaccinated. We will continue to abide by COVID-Safe rules set by NSW Health including the wearing of face masks at Mass, hand sanitising, no congregational singing and social distancing, following a four square metre rule”.
With current restrictions stating that unvaccinated children must remain with parents at a venue (including places of worship), many churches will continue to operate online services until the 80 per cent vaccination rate is achieved.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the 80 per cent roadmap will also remove the limit of fully vaccinated guests for weddings and funerals.
“I know people are counting down the minutes until we reach 70 per cent double dose and the freedoms that will provide, and today we are providing further certainty by announcing the 80 per cent roadmap and future settings,” Ms Berejiklian said in a statement this week. “Vaccination remains our ticket to freedom so we need to work even harder to get jabs in arms, to help stop the spread, minimise outbreaks and ensure people are protected when we open up.”
Churches and places of worship can operate with one person per two square metres, with singing permitted from 1st December.
