Updated Coronavirus Guidance - 22nd December

Alert Level 2 Restrictions from 26th December 2021

From 6am on the 26th December, Wales will move back into Alert Level 2 restrictions. Churches and community buildings can remain open but the implications for churches and community buildings are:

1. Two-metre social distancing is again a legal obligation for all organisers of activities. You need to revert to organising the access and layout of your buildings (churches and halls) to maintain social distancing between persons and households (if you haven’t retained it as part of your current risk assessment)
2. You should update your risk assessment to reflect the requirement for social distancing and the revised Alert Level
3. There are no strict limits on numbers attending for indoor or outdoor worship activities including life events – the only limit is the safe capacity of the building to maintain social distancing.
4. Use of buildings for other community activities/events is limited to a cap of 30 people indoors or 50 people outdoors (whilst maintaining social distancing). Note: Numbers at wedding receptions or funeral wakes are limited to the safe capacity of the venue to maintain social distancing
5. Face coverings must be worn for all indoor activities, as now
6. Singing remains permissible (with face coverings) but you should consider mitigation measures such as limiting numbers of songs/hymns or singing outdoors.

Attending hospitality venues, theatres and cinemas is returning to the ‘rule of 6’ and whilst this doesn’t impact on worship and community activities directly, arrangements for fellowship and refreshments should be reviewed to sit people in socially distanced groups of six.

The detailed guidance on how to safely open your buildings under Alert Level 2, will be updated shortly but, subject to the points above, the current guidance remains relevant. Welsh Government guidance on Alert Level 2 can be seen at Alert level 2: summary | GOV.WALES

Further restrictions may be imposed in January. Please visit http://www.churchinwales.org.uk for further updates and guidance.