Health Ministry confirms regs for lighting fires for religious purposes at bodies of water

The Ministry notes that these bodies of water will be open for use by the religious community between the hours of 5 am and 2 pm.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed the revised COVID-19 regulations governing the lighting of fires for religious purposes at bodies of water—beaches, rivers, streams, ponds, and springs, etc.—and is urging the public to comply with the regulations.

The Ministry notes that these bodies of water will be open for use by the religious community between the hours of 5 am and 2 pm.

Details of the Ministry’s statement follow…

Religious or ecclesiastical Organisations and their members will be permitted to light fires for religious purposes at beaches, rivers, streams, ponds, springs and similar bodies of water, pursuant to Regulation 4(3) of the Public Health [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-n CoV)] Regulations, 2022.

Pursuant to Regulation 4(3) of the Public Health [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-n CoV)] Regulations, 2022, with effect from January 21, 2022, the Minister of Health hereby authorises religious or ecclesiastical organisations and their members to light fires for religious purposes at beaches, rivers, streams, ponds, springs and similar bodies of water.

Religious or ecclesiastical organisations and their members are reminded that pursuant to Regulation 4(2) of the Public Health [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-n CoV)] Regulations, 2022, beaches, rivers, streams, ponds, springs and similar bodies of water, shall be open between the hours of 5.00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Further, all persons are advised to comply strictly with the (other) legal requirements of the Public Health [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)] Regulations, 2022 and the public health guidelines.

The Ministry of Health will continue to monitor this development and take steps to safeguard the health of the population.