COVID-19: Ondo reopens churches for Easter celebrations

The Ondo State Government has suspended COVID-19 restrictions for the celebration of Easter on Sunday.

This was made known by Donald Ojogo, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, in a press statement on Wednesday.

Ojogo disclosed that this is necessary as Easter is “one of the most important annual celebrations of the Church”.

He, however, warned that there would be no “Good Friday retreats, Jumat on Friday or ‘Gallilee’ on Monday.:

The Commissioner added that the ban on all social, political and religious gatherings continues afterwards, until further notice.

Read full statement below:

The State acknowledges concerns expressed in many quarters in respect of the above subject matter. This is especially in relation to the last Government Statement on the sustenance of the anti-COVID 19 measures put in place vis a vis the public statement issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) on same.

Government deems it necessary to clarify that much as it appreciates public concern over this matter, there is no need for any misgivings. As a matter of fact, the position of CAN and the Government Statement should be seen as mutually inclusive.

CAN’s statement is explicit enough that Government had graciously granted a special relief to enable Christians celebrate Easter Sunday, being one of the most important annual celebrations of the Church. That is the true position; more so that the word ‘restriction’ advisedly applied to provide the caveat for this special concession in line with crowd control regulations.

Accordingly, the State Government has already communicated to the Ondo State Police Command, this concession granted CAN to, as it were, temporise and allow the celebration of Easter Sunday in CHURCHES.

This is, however, without prejudice to all precautionary measures and guidelines earlier put in place to contain the spread of the pandemic as enunciated in Government’s earlier statements and as agreed to by the leadership of CAN.

For emphasis, there will be no Easter Retreat (Good Friday Programmes) or the Jumat service gatherings on Friday or ‘Gallilee’ on Monday. The ban on all social, political and religious gatherings continues afterwards, until further notice.