Choral performances, including carol singing, are not allowed in churches over the festive season as they increase the risk of Covid-19 transmission, according to the latest guidance from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
Wind or brass musical instruments, requiring musicians to blow into them, are not permitted but pipe organs can be played.
Collection boxes should not be passed among members of the congregation and physical interaction, such as shaking hands during the sign of peace, should be avoided.
The updated HPSC guidance for public worship, including churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, also states that religious leaders should wear a face covering during indoor services, except when delivering a sermon.
Face coverings are recommended "at all times" for the congregation. Visors should not be used, unless a person has a "specific problem" with using a mask or covering.
Members of the same household can sit closer together but otherwise, two-metre social distancing must be observed.
Services should not exceed one hour with at least one hour between services to allow for cleaning and ventilation and to avoid crowding/overlap.
Members of the congregation are asked to ensure they do not gather immediately outside the door before or after the service.
Communal items, such as bibles, leaflets, prayer mats and religious books, should be avoided. People are advised to bring their own religious material.
A section on communion advises that those distributing and receiving the sacrament must use hand sanitiser and communion wafers should be placed in the hands, not the tongue.
Social distancing should be maintained while approaching and returning from receiving communion. A one-way system should be used, where possible.
The use of confined spaces, such as confession boxes, should be suspended and any alternative arrangement "must be compliant with social distancing requirements".
Holy water fonts are also not permitted.
Under Level 3, up to 50 people are allowed to attend public worship at any one time.
Where the size of the premises allows for a capacity of greater than 50 this may be permitted, as long as the premises is subdivided into distinct sections containing not more than 50 persons.
Each section should have its own entrance/exit route with at least four metres between them.
The HPSC guidelines warn that "superspreading has been seen in religious settings, as well as in other locations such as restaurants, clubs and gyms".
The maximum number of people permitted to attend funerals and weddings remains at 25. Hugging and queuing to pay respects "should be avoided" at funerals, it states.
People should also "not shake hands to offer condolences" and signing books of condolences should be suspended due to the risk of spread of infection.
The HPSC also warns that carrying the coffin "poses a particular concern because it requires four to six people to stand close to each other. As per the Government's current advice, carrying of coffins should be suspended during the current phase".
