A new update has been received after the First Minister's announcement yesterday.

First Minister’s Announcement

The First Minister’s announcement today about tightening some restrictions does not affect gathering for worship in church. We can still gather in accordance with the Guidance that is currently in force, with a maximum of 50 (or 20 for funerals and weddings), subject to social distancing limits.

The reduction of gatherings from eight-in-three-households to six-in-two does affect any gatherings we might have in presbyteries, halls, parishioner’s houses, restaurants/venues, etc. This includes things like parish councils, RCIA, etc. For most of the Archdiocese, however, the local restrictions are still in force which ban any gatherings at home.

Dance Classes

Organised dance classes for under 12s can take place in parish halls. Dance classes for over-12s can only take place if it is non-contact dancing (so some forms of dancing might be allowed, but Scottish country or ballroom dancing would be banned). These classes must follow the Sport Scotland gymnastics guidance, which can be found at this link: https://www.scottishgymnastics.org/sites/default/files/imce/clubs/Scottish%20Gymnastics%20Covid-19%20route%20map%20Phase%203%20indoor%20guidance_27%20August.pdf This Guidance is very detailed and classes must be sure that they can fulfil it and Risk Assessments to that effect must be produced. They require a minimum of 9 square meters per participant, so it may be that many halls are too small to have viable classes.

This only applies to Dance Classes – parish dances, discos, etc., are still forbidden.   

Cases in a Parish

What happens if someone has been at Mass recently and tests positive? Under the test and protect system if someone tests positive then they must remain in isolation for ten days from symptom onset, or longer if certain symptoms persist. Following a positive test an individual will be put in touch with the local contact tracing team in order to identify ‘close contacts’. The Bishops’ Conference advisers suspect that attendance in one of our churches, with all of the measures we have in place, will not render other parishioners ‘close contacts’ but that will be a matter for the contact tracing team. The priest/deacon/EMHC who gave Communion to the person who tests positive might count as a close contact. It is very important that anyone who tests positive and has been in church recently should share that information with the contact tracing team.

If a priest has symptoms he must get tested and/or if he is asked to self-isolate, then he must do so, even though that may mean having to close the church (if the access is through the presbytery) and may mean having to rearrange funerals to neighbouring parishes, etc. Obviously these are very difficult steps to take, but they are necessary ones.