The archdiocese of Calcutta has issued a set of guidelines for the Holy Week (March 28 to April 4) and Easter.

The guidelines state that the church or the hall where the service is being held should be well ventilated. People should not remain inside to “meet and greet”.

Churches and halls must be sanitised after each major service, the guidelines state.

The guidelines, which were sent to all 65 Roman Catholic churches under the archdiocese on Wednesday, listed the safety protocols with respect to sanitisation, maintaining physical distance and wearing of masks.

It was also mentioned that the guidelines should be read “in conjunction with the latest Covid-19 government advisory”.

The guidelines state: “Clergy should generally avoid standing by entrances or exits to meet and greet people as this can create bottlenecks and bunching…. Announcements should be made to inform people not to remain in the church premises for meet and greet, but to exit immediately.”

Regarding communion, the guidelines state that the priest and the server must wear “face covering/mask”.

“Strictly observe guidance on the administration of Holy Communion (in the hand only),” the guidelines state.

For the “Veneration of the Cross”, the guidelines state that “the usual way, i.e kissing, should be completely avoided. A short genuflection or bow with folded hands could be used.”

Appropriate measures should be taken to “ensure the lines for veneration are short. Row-by-row proceeding is advised”.

Father Dominic Gomes, the vicar general of the archdiocese of Calcutta, said: “Last year people could not come to the churches during the Holy Week. This year they are longing to come but with the rise in infection, we have to be careful about the safety protocols. We have sent this as a reminder to all churches on Wednesday.”

As for vaccinated individuals, the guidelines state: “Even where a whole congregation has been vaccinated, there should be no relaxation of risk mitigation measures.”

The vicar general has said that during the Seven Churches Visitation on Thursday, one must maintain distance from others, regularly sanitise hands and wear a mask.