Churches across Singapore will be celebrating Good Friday (April 10) and Easter (April 12) under austere but “necessary” Circuit Breaker conditions to “keep Singapore safe from COVID-19”.

In  new measures for religious organisations released yesterday (April 4) by the Ministry of Culture, Communication and Youth (MCCY), church offices must close, and cell group meet-ups are strongly discouraged, even in a home setting.

MCCY’s “Elevated Safe Distancing Measures for Religious Organisations” follows on the heels of a nationally televised message by PM Lee and the Multi-Ministry Task Force on “Circuit Breaker” measures to pre-empt escalating infections.

Under the new measures for the Circuit Breaker period of April 7 to May 4, all religious services remain suspended and places of worship closed. Religious activities previously subjected to the 10-person rule, are fully suspended.

Churches recording online Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter services have an additional measure to abide by: MCCY advises that the recording team involved “must be kept to only what is essential (e.g. filming a sermon only without a worship team or band), and for as short a duration as possible”.

As at press time, churches were awaiting further clarification from MCCY on what they view as “essential”.