'Worship-type events' account for 10% of this month's N.B. COVID-19 cases

About 10 per cent of a "network" of 700 COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick this month have been "related to worship-type events," the province's leadCOVID epidemiologist said Friday.

But churches will be exempt from requiring proof of vaccination during certain services, including worship-related ones, under the renewed state of emergency.

"We know that fully vaccinated ... is the very best congregation. But we also know that the faith-based community, you know, are just innately responsive to anyone who comes to their door," Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said Friday.

So the province has worked with them to "try to find a sweet spot," she said.

Under the new rules, churches will have an option.

Ifthey choose not to ask for proof of double vaccination and "they believe"someone at theservice may not be vaccinated, then everyonemust be masked at all times, Shephard told a COVID briefing, without explaining how the churches would know if someone is unvaccinated.

In addition, they must:

• Operate at 50 per cent capacity or less.
• Maintain physical distancing.
• Record the names of all attendees or have assigned seating.
• Eliminate singing from services.
• Prevent anyone displaying COVID-19 symptoms and those who have been instructed to self-isolate from entering.

If they do ask for proof of vaccination,they must continue to mask at all times, but physicaldistancing won't be required, there are no capacity limits and singing while masked will be permitted.

For any other activities in their buildings during the week, proof of vaccination will be required, whether they are congregation members or other members of the public, she added.

"This is, I believe, a way that churches can operate and feel comfortable about what they're doing," said Shephard.

On Wednesday, it became mandatory for all New Brunswickers12 and older toshow proof they are fully vaccinatedto enter a number of public spaces, such asrestaurants, indoor sporting events and movies theatres.

The newly revised Public Health Actlists "gatherings that are held indoors" as being among those requiring proof.

But churches are not included. Premier BlaineHiggshas saidhe didn't want to see churchesforced to turn people away because of their vaccination status, butcalled on religious leadersto encourage vaccination of their worshippers.

On Friday, during a COVID technical briefing, Public Health epidemiologist Mathieu Chalifouxsaid the province has recorded866 cases of COVID-19 thismonth, as of Thursday, as well as 38 hospitalizations and two deaths.

He shared a graphic ofa "network" of 700 cases that occurred between Sept. 1 and Sept. 21, pointing out "large clusters" in the middle.

Cases have spreadto health zones 1, 3, 5 and 7.

Asked for more information about where community spread cases are originating,Chalifouxstressed the most salient point is that the clusters are occurring mostly in unvaccinated people.

"As far as specific types of gatherings that we have seen continued or important spread, I can say that about 10 per cent of our cases over the past month that are part of that network are related to worship-type events," he said.

United churches seek to reverse proof of vaccination exemption

Meanwhile, a number of United churches in the Saint John area are asking the premier to remove them from the list of exemptions for proof of vaccination.

Rev. Ian Manson, ofHarmony United Church in Saint John,said it struck them as "not making very much sense."

Manson says the churches sent a letter to Higgs, but have not yet received aresponse

"We offered it in a constructive spirit,"he told CBC'sShift."Wehave a strong sense of social responsibility, the United Church always has, and we want to do everything we can to practise and live out good behaviours and encourage that appropriate public policies are also in place."

People attending Manson'schurch present their vaccination paperwork, and are checked off on a list for future reference, he said.

TheArchdiocese of Monctonand diocese ofEdmundstonand Bathursthad been requiringproof of doublevaccination to access churches, rectories or community centres under their supervision.

This appliedto all religious celebrations, including masses, baptisms, weddings and funerals, as well as meetings, workshops, socials andbingos.

In the update Thursday,ArchbishopValery Vienneauof the Moncton Archdiocese advised his faithful theywill not be required to show proof of double vaccination to attend Sunday or weekday masses, baptisms, prayer groups, "and others."

Other Public Health precautions will be taken, however, Vienneau said.

Proof of vaccination will be required when accessing certain events, such as weddings, funerals, conferences or workshops, where no physical distancing is required, toallowfor full capacity, and there is no requirement to keep a record of those present.

"It is highly desirable forparish employees to be fully vaccinated.If this is not the case, they will have to wear a mask at all times and undergo a COVID test periodically according to government policy," he said.

"The four bishops of N.B. agree on [these] steps to make our churches as safe as possible for our faithful."

For services where no proof of vaccination is required, two metres of distancing must be maintained between different householdsor bubbles.

Worshippers will not be allowed to sing, but singing is still permitted for soloists and choirs, as long as four metres of distancing is maintained, he said.