17th March
2020
To
all ministers of NAC East Africa
CORONA VIRUS UPDATE
Unfortunately
we have been informed of cases of Corona Virus (COVID-19) in our territory of
East Africa. We do not yet know how widespread the virus is but this letter
serves to inform you of the measures that you should take to prevent further
spreading of the virus.
To
comply with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and
local directives in the territory, I wish to issue the following instructions:-
- All divine
services or activities that bring together more than one congregation are
suspended until when you will be advised to resume.
- Holy sealing and
baptism sacraments are suspended until when you will be advised to resume.
- Our tradition of
shaking hands is suspended until when you will be advised to resume
- Our tradition of
“fellowship” (eating together after divine service) is suspended until
when you will be advised to resume.
- Kindly make
provision for all members to wash their hands with soap and running water
or other disinfectant before entering the church building.
- Kindly make
provision for ministers to wash their hands with soap and running water
before dispensing Holy Communion.
- If one has a flu
or is coughing, he/she should stay at home or wear a surgical mask.
- Regarding
funerals, kindly follow the advice of the government authorities in your
area.
- In Kenya, Divine
Services will not take place on Sunday 22nd March 2020.
Divine services in Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan may proceed as per the
guidelines of governing authorities.
The
administration office is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to
work with the relevant authorities to provide you with weekly updates and
appropriate guidance until the virus is brought under control.
Receive
with heartfelt greetings
Signed
Joseph
Opemba Ekhuya
District
Apostle
17
Machi 2020
Kwa
watumishi Wote Kanisa Jipya la Kimitume Afrika Masharki
VIRUSI
VYA KORONA - TAARIFA ZA HIVI PUNDE
Kwa
bahati mbaya tumearifiwa kuhusu chipuko la virusi vya Korona (COVID-19) katika
wilaya yetu ya Afrika mashariki. Hatujui virusi hivi vimeweza kuenea kiwango
kipi lakini hii barua imeandikwa ili kukufahamisha kuhusu mambo unayopaswa
kufanya ili kuzuia kuenea kwa virusi hivi.
Ili
kuzingatia mapendekezo ya Shirika la Afya Duniani (WHO) na maagizo ya serikali
za eneo hili, ningependa kutoa maagizo yafuatayo:-
- Ibada zote
takatifu au shughuli ambazo zita unganisha zaidi ya kusanyiko moja
zimesitishwa mpaka wakati tutakapo shauriwa kufanya hivyo.
- Sakramenti za
Idhini takatifu na ubatizo wa maji zimesitishwa mpaka wakati mtakapo
amrishwa kuzirejelea.
- Utamaduni wetu wa
kusalimiana kwa mikono umesitishwa mpaka wakati ule mtakapo shauriwa
kufanya hivyo.
- Utamaduni wetu wa
‘’ushirika’’ (chakula cha pamoja baada ya ibada takatifu) umesitishwa
mpaka wakati mtakapo shauriwa kuurejelea.
- Fanya bidii
kuhakikisha kuwa washiriki wote wana mahali pa kuoshea mikono yao kwa
sabuni na maji inayotiririka au dawa za kuziua virusi kabla ya kuingia
kwenye jengo la kanisa.
- Tafadhali
hakikisha kwamba watumishi wamenawa mikono yao kwa sabuni na maji yanayo
tiririka kabla ya kupeana ushirika mtakatifu.
- Ikiwa mmoja
amepatwa na mafua au anakohoa, basi na akae nyumbani au avalie barakoa ya
upasuaji.
- Kuhusu mazishi,
tafadhali fuata maagizo kutoka kwa idara za serikali katika eneo lako.
- Nchini Kenya,
Ibada takatifu za Jumapili tarehe 22, Machi 2020 hazitafanyika. Ibada
takatifu katika inchi za Uganda, Tanzania na Sudan Kusini zitaendeshwa
kufuatana na maagizo yatakayo tolewa na Serikali za nchi husika.
Ofisi
ya utawala inafuatilia hali hii kwa karibu na itaendelea kufanya kazi na
mamlaka husika kukupa taarifa za kila wiki na mwongozo unaofaa hadi virusi vya
Korona vitakapowekwa chini ya udhibiti
Pokea
salamu zangu za moyoni
Sahihi
Joseph
Opemba Ekhuya
Mtume
Wa Wilaya
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