Guidance for religious services

A maximum of 50 people are permitted to attend places of worship for religious services.

The following protective measures still apply:

• 2 metres social distancing guidelines must be adhered to (members of the same household can sit or stand close together)
• wearing of face coverings
• where possible separate points of entrance and exit, clearly marked
• no congregation by people outside the premises before and after any service
• stewards on site to assist in this regard

Where the size of the premises allows for a capacity of greater than 50 this may be permitted only where:

• social distancing guidelines are adhered to
• the premises can be subdivided into distinct sections (cordoned or marked appropriately) of not more than 50 persons in each section
• there is a minimum of 4 metres between sections
• each section having its own entrance and exit route
• there are separate arrangements for elements of the service involving close contact, for example the distribution of Holy Communion
• strictly no movement of people between sections before, during or after the service
• the premises is well-ventilated

Drive-in religious services may be permitted from outside places of worship (for example, church carpark) where all attendees remain in their vehicles and follow prevailing advices on the mixing of households.

Provision should be made for certain elements of the service, for example, holy communion, where public health measures should be put in place to ensure that there are separate arrangements in place for those in vehicles and there is no contact between attendees.

Services should not exceed 1 hour (this includes entrance and exit times) with at least 1 hour between services to allow for cleaning and ventilation and to avoid crowding or overlap.

[external-link https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/placesofworshipguidance | HSPC COVID-19 Guidance for Religious Services. | You can read the full guidance here. ]

A maximum of 50 mourners are permitted at a service.

Attendance at wakes in private homes and at funeral homes should be for family only.

Related family gatherings should strictly adhere to prevailing public health advice on household mixing, including visitors to your home and indoor and outdoor dining.

Currently 50 guests are permitted at service (civil or religious).

From Thursday 5 August, the maximum number of guests permitted to attend a wedding will increase from 50 to 100 (current protective measures apply).

From 5 July (subject to the public health situation at the time), First Communions, Confirmations and Baptisms may take place.

Related family gatherings should strictly adhere to prevailing public health advice on household mixing, including visitors to your home and indoor and outdoor dining. Any decision to schedule such ceremonies should take account of the disease situation in the local community.