Re-opening churches in Cairo, Alexandria postponed by 2 weeks

CAIRO - 27 June 2020: The Standing Committee of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church held a video conference Saturday morning, and decided, under the chairmanship of his Holiness Pope Tawadros II, to postpone re-opening churches in Cairo and Alexandria for two weeks or more due to high infection rates there.

The committee met Saturday to assess the health situation with regard to the number of infections, and deaths at dioceses. According to the statement, the committee decided that each priest at each diocese to decide on resuming or suspending masses, or gradually opening them in accordance with health procedures.

The statement added that in case there will a gradual opening of any diocese, “we recommend adhering to all instructions that will be issued later in a special note, and the opening of churches of Cairo and Alexandria will be postponed until mid-July. Then the situation will be reevaluated.”

Muslim and Christian worship places were closed indefinitely as part of the state's comprehensive plan to face the COVID-19 pandemic. The government announced re-opening mosques under strict precautionary measures as of Saturday, as part of a plan to gradually open up vital places, including: restaurants and cafes, which will operate with only 25 percent of its capacity.