A STATEMENT ON COVID-19 (CORONA VIRUS) TO ALL THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN THE DIOCESE OF LIVINGSTONE

1. AWARE OF THE PRESS STATEMENT ON COVID-19 (CORONA VIRUS) AND ADDITIONAL PREVENTIVE AND CONTROL MEASURES INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, BY DR. CHILUFYA CHITALU, MINISTER OF HEALTH, ISSUED IN LUSAKA, ON 14TH MARCH, 2020,

2. CONCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT THE ZAMBIA CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS IS YET TO ISSUE GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW AT LITURGICAL FUNCTIONS,

3. THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP OF LIVINGSTONE WISHES TO OFFER THE FOLLOWING MEASURES TO BE OBSERVED, IN ALL CATHOLIC CHURCHES AND INSTITUTIONS IN THE DIOCESE OF LIVINGSTONE, WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT:

I. THE CHURCH AUTHOURITIES SHALL PROVIDE HAND HYGIENE FACILITIES, SUCH AS SOAP AND RUNNING WATER, OR ALCOHOL-BASED HAND SANITIZERS. 

II. THE CHURCH AUTHOURITIES SHALL PROVIDE WATER AND SANITARY FACILITIES TO THEIR MEMBERS.

III. THE CONGREGANTS AT CHURCH AND SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY MEETINGS SHALL NOT HAVE HANDSHAKES AND HUGS. 

IV. AT MASS, THE SIGN OF PEACE IS THERE, BUT NO HAND SHAKE.


V. WE ENCOURAGE RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION ON THE PALMS.

VI. EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNION HELPERS TO OBSERVE EXTRA HYGIENE BY WASHING THEIR HANDS WITH ALCOHOL-BASED HAND SANITIZER BEFORE AND AFTER DISTRIBUTING HOLY COMMUNION. 

VII. NO HOLY WATER SHALL BE USED AT ENTRY AND EXIT OF CHURCHES. PLEASE EMPTY THE HOLY WATER FONTS. 

VIII. REMEMBER IF YOU ARE SICK OR EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF SICKNESS, OUT OF CHARITY FOR YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, PROMPTLY SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION (GO TO THE HOSPITAL/CLINIC).

4. MAY WE COOPERATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND HEALTH PERSONNEL IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST THE PANDEMIC COVID-19.

SIGNED: +VALENTINE KALUMBA, OMI 

BISHOP OF LIVINGSTONE

PLACE: LIVINGSTONE

DATE: 14TH MARCH, 2020