Covid-19 seminar held for local places of worship

A webinar about COVID-19 was hosted by North East Lincolnshire Council last week for representatives of local places of worship.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, more places are becoming able to reopen whilst following Government guidance. Places of worship in our area are no different, with some opening their doors to limited numbers and with preventative measures in place.

To help guide local faith leaders and issue advice about how to reduce the risk of the virus spreading in individual settings, officers from North East Lincolnshire Council’s Public Health team held a virtual meeting for leaders from all faiths.

Geoff Barnes, Deputy Director for Public Health at North East Lincolnshire Council, hosted the webinar.

Mr Barnes said: “It’s very important that our messages and the Government guidance reach all of our communities and enable groups to do all they can to keep North East Lincolnshire safe and open.

“Faith groups can be a safe space for people and a place of comfort to many of our residents, so I’m pleased that we have been able to meet with faith leaders, albeit virtually, to allay any concerns and discuss appropriate measures that they can put in place to make their venues safer.

“I know a lot of our local places of worship have already reopened with measures in place. Other settings have made the difficult decision to stay closed for the time being. Each place of worship must follow the appropriate guidance and make their own judgement about whether now is the right time to reopen or not.

“I’d like to thank all those that attended the session and look forward to a continued dialogue.”

A recording of the webinar has been posted online on the Council’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/northeastlincs for anyone who could not attend the session.