JAKARTA (UCAN): The Council of Ministers of the government of Timor-Leste lifted a ban on religious activities in the capital, Dili, that kept Catholics and members of other religions from going to places of worship for more than two months following a spike in Covid-19 cases in early March.
The decision was announced on May 26 following an assessment of the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) situation by the Integrated Crisis Management Centre, the agency dealing with the pandemic.
News about the lifting of the ban came as a surprise as the number of Covid-19 cases was still increasing. As of May 26, the country had recorded a total of 6,014 infections, 14 deaths and 2,666 active cases.
Apart from Dili, where 80 per cent of active cases are located, the municipalities of Baucau, Covalima, Bobonaro and Viqueque have also recorded cases.
Prior to the decision, residents in the capital were still prohibited from leaving their homes except for health and work purposes and to access to essential goods and services.
“Collective religious celebrations and other group worship events are now allowed provided that those attending such ceremonies maintain a distance of at least one metre from each other and wear a face mask,” the government said in an official statement.
It said the decision took into account requests made by Archbishop Virgil Carmo da Silva of Dili, who promised that the Church would adhere to health protocols during services.
Father Angelo Salshina, chairperson of the archdiocese’s Covid-19 pastoral support team, explained that the archdiocese had yet to decide when church doors will reopen.
“It is likely that it will happen this week (late May) or early June,” said the priest, who was also infected with Covid-19 and had just completed a period of self-quarantine.
Reverend Lorenso Dos Santos, chief adviser to the Synod of Protestant Churches in Timor-Leste, said they would resume services on May 30, indicating that mask wearing, hand washing and social distancing will be observed.
Siu Peng Lay, head of the Confucian community in Timor-Leste, said they would hold off on resuming communal events for the time being.
“We are still worried about many people who do not really adhere to health protocols. We would prefer to stick to online events for now,” he said.
