In Revised Guidelines, Bishop in South Africa Urges Adherence to COVID-19 Protocols

“As we open our Parish churches, we have to keep the numbers to 50 inside the church. There can be 100 people outside. For funerals only 50,” the Local Ordinary of South Africa’s Kroonstad Diocese directs.

South Africa has been battling the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by a new mutation of the disease identified as the 501.V2 variant. The new strain led to a spike in infections, which saw the country cross the two million mark of reported cases of the pandemic.

The country has recorded at least 2.39 million COVID-19 cases, 2.18 million recoveries and 70,388 deaths.

In his July 27 message, Bishop Holiday notes that as the “schools open, catechism should begin again. The Sodalities and other groups in the Diocese can meet with keeping all the protocols and restrictions.”

“I ask the Priests and Parish Pastoral Councils to manage the Parish Community as to how people will be able to come to Sunday Mass as you did before,” Bishop Holiday directs.

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He adds, “Let us, as a Diocese, be patient in working with the Priests and Parish Pastoral Councils as we move forward slowly with the hope that soon life in society will return to some form of normality. “

“Let us continue to pray for God’s healing in the world and country,” the South African Bishop says in his July 27 message. 

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.