Midlands Priest Warns Shaking Hands At Funerals May Be Suspended

Friday, 6 March 2020 at 16:20

Photo credit: Facebook - St. Mary's Church Athlone

Fr Pierre says its necessary in the wake of the corona virus outbreak.

A Midlands Priest says suspending the sign of peace at mass for the foreseeable future is regrettable but necessary in the wake of the corona virus outbreak.

Fr. Pierre Pepper in Athlone says receiving holy communion will only be placed on the hand and not on the tongue and Eucharistic ministers will also be obliged to use hand sanitiser.

Holy water has also been removed from fonts in other to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Athlone's Fr Pepper says shaking hands at funerals may also have to be suspended too:

Meanwhile retired health care workers may be asked to come back to help deal with the Coronavirus outbreak.

Leo Varadkar has given an update this evening saying the government thinks large gatherings like the St Patrick's Day celebrations will still go ahead.

He's also said banning flights coming from Italy to try to stop the spread of the virus would not be effective.

The Taoiseach says the government is taking all steps to prepare for more cases: