By CISA
JUBA, AUGUST 14, 2020 (CISA)-President Salva Kiir has revealed plans by the government to establish protocols to guide the safe reopening of places of worship amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking August 9 at a luncheon at the presidential palace attended by senior government officials, religious leaders and other constitutional post holders, President Kiir said citizens have to learn to live with the virus and promised the clerics that he would reopen churches and mosques in the country.
“Earlier, his grace asked me when we were resuming our prayers in church. I and my vice president James Wani are always in attendance. We always go to Kator Catholic Church. Your grace, be always assured that we will resume our prayers in the church. This coronavirus, even if it has not gone, has come to stay with us and we must take it like that,” President Kiir said.
The president however did not specify the exact date for reopening the places of worship.
As part of preparations for the opening of churches, the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba on Thursday, August 13 launched a booklet on guidelines for the re-opening places of worship during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Archbishop Stephen Ameyu the book contains guidelines for worship, baptism, communion, and marriage ceremonies.
In March this year, President Kiir banned all social gatherings including sporting and religious events, weddings and political activities as a move to curb the spread of Covid-19.
As at August 9, South Sudan’s total Covid-19 cases stand at 2,472, with 47 deaths and 1,264 recoveries.
