Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Re: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update
NSW Health has revised the COVID-19 guidelines for places of worship.
Effective from 23 November 2020
Religious Services
The maximum number of people at an outdoor religious service (not including weddings and funerals) must not exceed 500 people, subject to the one person per 2 square metre rule (if each person is assigned a seat) or the 4 square metre rule for informal seating in open areas (eg picnic rug).
The maximum number of people at an indoor religious service (not including weddings and funerals) wherever held must not exceed 300 people, subject to the 4 square metre rule.
If a place of public worship has separate buildings, the maximum number of people in each separate building is subject to the 4 square metre rule and the requirements of the public health order to a maximum of 300 people per building. If there are separate buildings, each building should have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.
Places of public worship may hold outdoor religious services (of up to 500 people) or outdoor music performances (of up to 500 people) at the same time as indoor religious services or other indoor activities (of up to 300 people), provided there is sufficient space on the premises and the events start and finish at different times. People attending a religious service will be required to provide their name and contact details when they enter so that they can be used for contact tracing.
It is strongly recommended that people attending services in places of worship wear a mask.
Choirs/Singing
Choirs
Up to 30 singers will be permitted to sing outdoors. The limit of 5 singers remains for indoor singing. The choir should be facing forward, 1.5 metres apart and located at least 5 metres from the congregation.
Congregational singing
Congregation may sing, but anyone 12 years or older must wear a mask.
Effective from 1 December 2020
Funerals
The number of people who can attend a funeral memorial service will increase to 300 people from Tuesday 1 December 2020, subject to the 4 square metre rule.
Weddings
The number of people who can attend a wedding will increase to 300 people from Tuesday 1 December 2020, subject to the 4 square metre rule indoors and 2 square metre rule outdoors.
With my prayers during these troubling times,
Very Rev Peter G. Williams
Vicar General & Moderator of the Curia
