Religious organisations cancel gatherings over COVID-19 outbreak
Given the complicated developments following the latest COVID-19 outbreak in the central city of Da Nang, religious organisations nationwide have issued guidance on disease prevention and control, including the temporary halt of gatherings.
At the 2019 La Vang Pilgrimage Festival in Quang Tri (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Given the complicated developments followingthe latest COVID-19 outbreak in the central city of Da Nang, religiousorganisations nationwide have issued guidance on disease prevention andcontrol, including the temporary halt of gatherings.
On July 30, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Chairman of theVietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Executive Board, sent a document asking the VBS’scommittees and institutes, municipal and provincial chapters, Buddhist trainingestablishments, and Buddhist monks and nuns at temples and pagodas across thecountry to temporarily cancel religious events and ceremonies and trainingcourses gathering large number of people.
The board also requested all religious facilities to followCOVID-19 prevention and control measures like hand washing, wearing offacemasks, and health monitoring when necessary.
On July 27, the Archdiocese of Hue announced an indefinitepostponement of the 32nd La Vang Pilgrimage Festival, which waspreviously scheduled for August 12 – 15 in the central province of Quang Tri.This is the first time the event has been postponed. The pilgrimage attractshundreds of thousands of pilgrims nationwide every year.
On July 31, Ho Chi Minh City’s Archdiocese announced ahiatus of pastoral activities and liturgical celebrations until further notice.During the period, all followers are exempted from attending the Sunday Mass,with daily prayers gathering less than 30 people and following distancing rule.As from August 1, holy ceremonies at cathedrals are broadcast online.
All churches and oratories have to carry out preventivemeasures guided by the Health Ministry.
On August 2, Bishop of Can Tho Diocese Tri Buu Thienannounced a temporary halt of the Sunday Mass at all churches under the dioceseuntil further notice. Meanwhile, the daily mass is allowed to be maintained,with the number of participants to be kept at under 30 and participantsfollowing disease preventive measures and physical distancing rule.
The diocese also cancelled some doctrine and trainingclasses that gather more than 30 people./.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, on August 2 stressed that those who fail to make health declarations and follow quarantine regulations must be handled strictly.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired an online meeting of permanent Government members and ministries, sectors and local administrations on COVID-19 prevention and control on August 2.
Vietnam on August 3 morning confirmed one new locally transmitted case of COVID-19, a 60-year-old woman from the central province of Quang Ngai with link to the Da Nang hospital hot spot.
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At the 2019 La Vang Pilgrimage Festival in Quang Tri (Photo: VNA) 
