Reverend Dr. Howard Gregory, Anglican Archbishop of the West Indies
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Reverend Dr. Howard Gregory, Anglican Archbishop of the West Indies and Reverend Newton Dixon, President of the Jamaica Council of Churches
Two church leaders have welcomed the government's decision to allow the resumption of services.
However, Reverend Dr. Howard Gregory, Anglican Archbishop of the West Indies and Reverend Newton Dixon, President of the Jamaica Council of Churches, agree that churches should assess whether it is feasible to resume in light of the stipulations.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Monday said the measures will be in place for two weeks, starting May 16.
Churches will be required to maintain social distancing and do temperature checks for congregants before entry is allowed.
Attendees must wear a mask and a hand sanitization station must also be put in place.
While Reverend Dr. Gregory welcomed the easing of restrictions for churches, he said this will not represent a "whole scale return to congregational worship" as some persons are still skeptical about appearing in public.
He encouraged the clergy and congregants to uphold the guidelines set by the Ministry of Health.
Reverend Dixon, in the meantime, said he is awaiting the gazetted order as clarification is needed on some of the stipulations for the resumption of services.
He added that there remains concern about the restriction on persons 65 years and older, who are still under stay-at-home orders.
Some churches have been streaming services online in response to the measures implemented in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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