COVID Safety Plans in accordance with Public Health (Restricted Activities – Gatherings, Business or Undertakings) Emergency Direction 2021
From 9am on Friday 14 April
What places of worship need to do:
Have a COVID Safety Plan
- Wedding and funeral organisers must have a [COVID Safety Plan](https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1554199/PICC0016-COVID-safety-plan_v7.pdf).
- If places of worship do not have a COVID Safety Plan, the maximum number of people allowed in the venue is 25.
- Any event that is approved through the COVID Safe Event Protocol for more than 500 people must have its own COVID Safety Plan.
Register for and use the Check In CBR app
- Places of worship and wedding and funeral organisers must be registered for and using the Check In CBR app.
- Places of worship and wedding and funeral organisers must take all reasonable steps to require patrons to check in before entering the premises.
- Everyone 16 years and older must check in. Children less than 16 years old attending with their family don’t need to check in, but parents and caregivers should be encouraged to check them in.
- If patrons don’t have the app, they must provide their details to the venue so they can check the patron in.
- For more information, visit the [Check In CBR information for businesses page](https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/business-and-work/check-in-cbr/information-for-businesses).
Put up signs
- Display a sign at the entrance saying how many people can be in the venue.
- Place signs at the entry to each usable space saying how many people can be in that space.
- Display messaging for patrons to stay home if unwell.
- Find the signage that best suits your venue/event at our [Business resources](https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/signs-and-factsheets#Downloadable-posters) page.
Manage the crowd
- Manage the flow of people to promote physical distancing, particularly where people enter and leave the place of worship.
- Encourage those attending to keep 1.5 metres away from other people/groups they do not know.
- Discourage gatherings in communal spaces.
Keep places of worship COVID Safe
- Avoid using collection plates and other shared equipment during services.
- Limit the use of books, if possible.
- Clean any shared equipment and books between each use.
- Keep the number of church leaders and others involved in the service to a minimum and ask them to remain physically distanced
- Singing carries a high risk due to increased droplet spread. Information about singing as a high-risk activity is available on the [Protect yourself page](https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/stay-safe-and-healthy/protect-yourself#High-risk-activities).**
- Minimise the number of choir members in each service. Choir members should stay at least two metres away from the congregation, those conducting the service/event and, if possible, 1.5 metres from each other when singing.
- Minimise the number of musicians in each service. Musicians must stay at 1.5 metres away from the congregation, those conducting the service and, if possible, each other.
- Encourage physical distancing of 1.5 metres between each group or household.
- Increase the frequency of cleaning for high touch areas and restroom facilities.
Keep COVID safe
- Follow your [COVID Safety Plan](https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1554199/PICC0016-COVID-safety-plan_v7.pdf).
- Clean high-touch areas and objects frequently - download the [WorkSafe cleaning checklist](https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1554184/Fact-Sheet-WorkSafe-Cleaning-Checklist.pdf) for more information.
- Encourage physical distancing of 1.5 metres between people and groups that don’t know each other.
- Ask any guests, staff or people conducting the service to stay home if they are feeling unwell.
What visitors need to do
Along with your responsibilities as a business or venue, your patrons and visitors have personal responsibilities when out and about as well.
They need to:
- Use the Check In CBR app to check in. [If they don’t have the Check In CBR app, use the business profile mode to check them in](https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/business-and-work/check-in-cbr/information-for-businesses).
- Take personal responsibility for their own safety, by practising COVID-safe behaviours:
- Keep 1.5 metres away from people or groups they don’t know.
- Maintain good personal hygiene, including regular hand washing or sanitising.
- Stay home if they’re unwell and get tested if they have any COVID-19 symptoms. Do not congregate in large groups and maintain physical distancing while queuing
**Singing - extracted from ACT Health Website found under the heading Protect Yourself - High Risk Activities
Singing
Singing carries a high risk of transmission of COVID, due to increased droplet spread. While singing is currently permitted in the ACT, venues and event organisers should take steps to minimise the risks associated with this activity.
- Choirs and performers should maintain a minimum of two metres from each other and from the audience/ congregation.
- Congregational singing is discouraged. However, if congregations wish to allow singing they need to include this in their COVID Safety Plan and ensure that members maintain a minimum of 1.5 metres from each other whilst singing.
- Additional cleaning should be undertaken of areas or equipment in range of singers/performers.