NEW advice has been issued by public health experts about visiting places of worship safely.

This comes with religious centres set to reopen for congregational prayers and services from March 8.

As such, the three directors of public health for Lancashire have this week written to all faith leaders in the county to offer public health advice to make sure places of worship remain Covid-secure.

Blackburn with Darwen director of public health Professor Dominic Harrison said: “When England went into lockdown in early January, religious services and communal prayers were still allowed. However we strongly advised all places of worship to temporarily suspend these activities, because of the high virus rates we were seeing locally and the transmission of new Coronavirus variants.

“Now, we’re advising places of worship that they can resume collective worship from 8 March, and offering them help to review their risk assessments and update their COVID-secure arrangements if necessary.

“We’re getting a good grip on the virus now and we need all places of worship to remain vigilant and ensure their arrangements are robust enough to protect their congregations.”

The council says that this gradual relaxation does not mean things are ‘back to normal’ and that the virus continues to be transmitted around communities.

In Blackburn with Darwen, the council’s public protection team is giving support to all places of worship that may need to review their risk assessments in the light of new virus variants.

Spot checks are also taking place to monitor compliance at places of worship, similar to at workplaces and in shops.

Anyone who attends a place of worship is reminded to follow this safety advice to protect themselves, their loved ones and others:

• Sanitise your hands of entry to the place of worship and again as you leave

• Sign the register as you arrive – and use the NHS COVID-19 app if you have it

• Comply with other public safety arrangements at your place of worship e.g. taking temperature on arrival

• Wear a face covering at all times when inside a place of worship

• Stay a safe 2 metre distance from anyone not in your household or support bubble

• Do not gather in groups outside the place of worship before or after attending

• Do not give handshakes or hugs to anyone not in your household or support bubble

• If you or anyone in your household has Coronavirus symptoms, stay at home

• Continue to pray at home if you have a clinically vulnerable person in your household

• For Muslims, do Wudhu at home and take your own prayer mat.

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Mohammed Khan CBE said: “It is encouraging that the levels of COVID-19 cases are decreasing sufficiently in Blackburn with Darwen to allow congregational worship to resume.

“But we cannot become complacent.

"Even those people who have had their coronavirus vaccinations must remain vigilant and continue to follow the safety guidance when attending their place of worship.

“Easter, Ramadan and Eid are all coming up.

"These are important religious festivals for many people in Blackburn with Darwen and were all impacted by the pandemic last year.

“It is in everyone’s best interests to do what is necessary now to help our communities to be in better shape to mark these occasions together in the coming months.”

Meanwhile, under department for education guidelines, all faith-based education must stay online until April 12 at the earliest.

To find out more, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july.