The General Secretary of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Rev. Emmanuel T. Barrigah has urged Churches especially their member churches of GPCC, not tot rush to open their churches without putting in place the various safety protocols directed by the government to safeguard the lives of their members in the midst of the Corona virus pandemic.
Any church, he said, which goes against the directive of the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo could be closed down by the state.
Therefore, speaking to the GPCC News Team, he indicated that churches should take time and put in place those safety protocols sent to them to help to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19.
“Member Churches should abide by the protocols that have been sent to them and not be in rush to open,” he said.
Safety Protocols
Touching on some of the protocols which must be put in place, Rev. Barrigah indicated that, when talking to the congregants at Church, the two meter social distancing rule must be observed.
“Churches should encourage members to carry along their personal masks when coming to Church. However, provision should be made by the Church for new members and visitors without masks” he pointed out.
Again, the General Secretary called on churches leaders to ensure there are automatic hand sanitizing dispensers at all entrances of the Church Auditoriums and in the Wash rooms.
Adding that, at all entrances of the Church Auditorium, there must be paper tissues and enhanced Veronica buckets for members to wash and clean their hands, stressing that hands free soap dispenser must be fitted to avoid cross contamination.
“Temperature of members must be checked at the point of entry with a non-contact digital infrared thermometer gun. Those with temperatures above 37.5 degrees Celsius will be made to visit a Health facility,” he said.
The General Secretary noted that Churches should designate a room or area where a person who has a high temperature or is sick at the Church premises can be isolated from others whiles making arrangements for evacuation.
As part of the fight against the pandemic in the Country, he urged Christian leaders to display educational materials on COVID – 19 at vantage points to remind people to keep to social distancing rules, encourage good hygiene practices such as hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette.
Rev. Barrigah urged Christian leaders that, before they open their churches, the Church building and the premises should be fumigated.
Enforcement of Regulations
Hence, he pointed out that if they are not ready to put all these safety protocols in places, they should not be in a rush to start church else they would be sanctioned.
Rather wait patiently to ensure all the safety protocols are ready to start with so they do not contribute to the spread of COVID -19.
The General Secretary cautioned that, government has constituted a task force which would go around during church services to enforce the various regulations put in place.
SOURCE: GPCC NEWS
