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COVID-19: 7th Lunar Month prayers, post-funeral religious rites can be held in some places with conditions

SINGAPORE - JANUARY 24:  Worshippers wearing mask, gather to pray at the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple on January 24, 2020 in Singapore. Singapore confirmed another two cases of the Wuhan viruses today, making a total of three, as Singapore prepares to usher in the Year of the Rat, one of the most anticipated holidays on the Chinese calendar. Also known as the Spring festival or the Lunar New Year, the celebrations last for about 15 days.  (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)
Worshippers wearing mask, gather to pray at the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple on 24 January 2020 in Singapore. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — Seventh Lunar Month prayers and post-funeral religious rites fulfilling certain conditions will be allowed in places of worship and some external venues such as HDB common areas, the multi-ministerial COVID-19 taskforce said on Thursday (6 August).

The rites should be conducted by religious organisations with a good track record of implementing safe management measures, or by religious workers endorsed by these organisations.

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) will release more details shortly.

In order to reduce risk exposure, most community events should continue to remain virtual for now. These include large gatherings and festivities such as Seventh Lunar Month events involving activities such as live auctions, getai performances, and National Day events such as community concerts and observance ceremonies.

On Tuesday, a pilot for wedding receptions of up to 50 persons was launched. For now, wedding receptions are allowed only in controlled venues where safe management measures can be better implemented, such as restaurants, hotels, and public and private function rooms.

Selected indoor function spaces managed by NParks have been available for wedding receptions since Tuesday while function rooms and multi-purpose halls at community centres or clubs will be available from 31 August.

The announcement comes after the MCCY said on Monday that 12 religious organisations (ROs) will be allowed to accommodate up to 100 persons at any one time for congregational and other worship services with safeguard precautions in place as from Friday as part of a pilot.

The ROs involved are Masjid Assyafaah, Masjid Mujahidin, Masjid Al-Istighfar, Masjid Al-Iman, St Andrew’s Cathedral, Jurong Christian Church, Amazing Grace Presbyterian Church, Sengkang Methodist Church and Central Sikh Temple.

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