Ministry Of Religion Publishes Circular For Handling COVID-19 During The 2021 Christmas Celebration, Check Out The Terms

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (Photo: kemenag.go.id)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion issues the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 at the 2021 Christmas Celebration. This guide is contained in the Circular Letter of the Minister of Religion No: SE. 31 of 2021. This circular was signed by the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on November 29, 2021.

As quoted from the Ministry of Religion website, According to Yaqut, the health and safety of all Indonesian citizens is a top priority that must be considered in setting policies for organizing worship activities and Christmas celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidelines are issued in order to prevent, cope with, and break the chain of the spread of COVID-19 in churches while at the same time providing a sense of security and comfort to the community during the 2021 Christmas celebration.

"The circular is issued as a guide for Christians who will hold Christmas worship and celebrations in their respective houses of worship while still adhering to health protocols, especially in the context of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting the public from the risk of its impact," explained the Minister of Religion in Jakarta, Thursday. , December 2nd.

"Efforts to prevent and control COVID-19 in places of worship at Christmas 2021 must be carried out. We all have to be vigilant, especially with the emergence of a new variant, namely Omnicron, in a number of countries. The house of worship must be the best example in efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19," he continued.

The Minister of Religion emphasized that the implementation of core religious activities and Christmas celebrations at places of worship must be carried out by enforcing policies in accordance with the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) level 3 (three).

Circular of the Ministry of Religion (Illustration: kemenag.go.id)

The following are the provisions of the Minister of Religion's Decree regarding the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 at the 2021 Christmas Celebration:

The 2021 Christmas Celebration during the COVID-19 Pandemic is carried out with the following conditions:

1. Carry out tightening and supervision of health procedures in churches/places that function as places of worship by enforcing policies in accordance with the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) level 3 (three).

2. The Church established a COVID-19 Handling Health Protocol Task Force in coordination with the Regional COVID-19 Handling Task Force.

3. During the Christmas worship and celebration:

a. it should be done simply and not excessively, and emphasizes fellowship in the midst of the family;

b. carried out in an open space; 

c. if it is carried out in a church, it will be held in a hybrid way, namely in congregation/collectively at the church and online with the worship service that has been prepared by the church administrators and administrators; and

d. the number of people who can take part in worship activities and Christmas Celebrations in congregation/collectively does not exceed 50% (fifty percent) of the room capacity or 50 (fifty) people.

4. In organizing Christmas services and celebrations, church administrators and administrators are obliged to:

a. provide officers to inform and supervise the implementation of the 5M Health Protocol;  

b. provide a temperature checking device at the entrance for all church users; 

c. carry out body temperature checks for each congregation using a body temperature measuring device (thermogun);

d. provide hand sanitizers and facilities for washing hands using soap with running water at the entrance and exit of the church;

e. carry out regular cleaning and disinfection of the church area;

f. use the PeduliLindung application when entering and exiting the church and only those with yellow and green categories are allowed to enter;

g. regulate the flow of congregational mobility and the entrance and exit of the church in order to facilitate the implementation and supervision of health protocols;

h. set the distance between congregations at least 1 (one) meter by placing a special mark on the floor, yard, or chair;

i. make arrangements for the number of congregations/people/church users who gather at the same time, to facilitate social distancing restrictions;

j. provide a backup of medical masks;

k. prohibiting congregations with unhealthy conditions from participating in worship/religious activities;

l. advise the congregation aged 60 (sixty) years and over and pregnant/breastfeeding mothers to worship at home;

m. the charity box or collection bag is placed in a certain place and is not circulated;

n. ensure that there are no crowds before and after the implementation of worship/religious activities by regulating access to enter and exit the congregation;

o. ensure that places of worship or places of worship have good air circulation and sunlight can enter and when using air conditioner (AC) must be cleaned periodically; 

p. not having a banquet together;

q. ensure that the sermon fulfills the following conditions: 1) pastors, priests, or clergy wear masks and face shields properly and correctly; and 2) pastors, priests, or clergy remind the congregation to always maintain health and comply with health protocols.

5. Participants of the 2021 Christmas Celebration must:

a. use masks properly and correctly;  

b. maintain hand hygiene by washing hands using running water or using hand sanitizer;

c. maintain a distance of at least 1 (one) meter from other congregations;

d. in good health (body temperature below 37 degrees Celsius);

e. not currently in self-isolation;

f. not just returned from a trip outside the area;

g. bring their respective worship equipment;

h. carry pockets for storing footwear; and

i. Avoid physical contact or shaking hands.

6. It is forbidden to conduct parades or processions in the framework of the 2021 Christmas Celebration which involves a large number of participants.

7. Middle and Primary High Leadership Officials at the Ministry of Religion shall:

a. socialization and education of health protocols;

b. ban on going home to ASN and Non-ASN employees during Christmas 2021 and New Year 2022;

c. monitoring the Implementation of the 2021 Christmas Commemoration at the central level;

d. coordination with heads of ministries/agencies, leaders of the TNI/Polri, leaders of State-Owned Enterprises, Task Force for Handling COVID-19 as well as community and religious leaders at the central level; and

e. reporting the results of monitoring to the Minister of Religion through the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Religion on a regular basis/at any time.

8. Chancellor/Chairman of Christian and Catholic State Religious Universities, Head of Provincial Office of the Ministry of Religion, Head of Regency/City Ministry of Religion Office, Christian and Catholic Religious Education Unit, and Christian and Catholic Religious Counselor to:

a. socialization and education of health protocols;  

b. ban on going home to ASN Employees and Non-ASN Employees during Christmas 2021 and New Year 2022;

c. monitoring the 2021 Christmas Celebration at local government agencies at the provincial, district/city, sub-district, and sub-district/village levels as well as Regional or Village-Owned Enterprises;

d. coordination with governors, regents/mayors, sub-district heads, village heads, local TNI/Polri leaders, regional or village-owned enterprises, the COVID-19 Task Force, and community and religious leaders at the regional level;

e. reporting the results of monitoring by the Head of the Regency/Municipal Ministry of Religion Office to the Provincial Head of the Ministry of Religion Regional Office periodically/from time to time and in stages; and;

f. reporting the results of monitoring by the Head of the Provincial Office of the Ministry of Religion to the Minister of Religion through the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Religion on a regular basis/at any time.

9. The Head of the Provincial Office of the Ministry of Religion and the Head of the Regency/Municipal Ministry of Religion will monitor places of worship in rest areas and shopping/mall places during Christmas 2021 and New Year 2022.