Coronavirus Checklist

Before using your church building for private prayer or streaming:

1. If your building has been completely closed for the lockdown period, open the doors and any openable windows to air it out.
2. Check the building for cleanliness. If there are bat droppings or other animal waste, be sure not to touch or go near it until proper cleaning can be arranged.
3. If you are going to use the water system or toilets, flush all toilets and run the water from all taps and other hot and cold water-outlets for at least 5 minutes to ensure the water system has been thoroughly flushed through to reduce the risk of Legionella and Weil’s disease. If you have any concerns seek appropriate professional help/ advice.
4. If heating or electrical systems have been switched off, then consider if you need to turn them back on and ensure you know how to do so.
5. Take the chance to do a basic visual check of general maintenance items such as electrical systems, emergency lighting and other lighting, fire alarm systems, heating systems, fridges, security monitoring and access systems, water systems and toilets.
6. Remove water from holy water stoups.

To use the building safely:

1. If services are being streamed, filming should be done either with a fixed camera or by a member of the priest’s or lay minister’s household.
2. Ringing a bell and/ or raising of a flag should only be done if access is on ground level.
3. If you are using candles then take care not to light them immediately after using hand sanitiser gel, especially if this has alcohol in it.
4. If you are not the only person accessing the building (for example contractors or cleaners are coming in), make sure there is a rota in place, with a written record of who has been in. Ensure hand sanitiser and/ or hand washing facilities are easily available near every entrance.
5. Do not share Bibles, prayer books etc. This includes lending libraries, parish magazines etc.
6. If toilets or washing facilities are available, make sure that there are disposable paper towels and that there is plenty of liquid soap.
7. After use, surfaces you have touched should be cleaned in line with Public Health England guidance.
8. Ensure you close any windows and lock the church when you leave.