[Ely Announce] Swine Flu Precautions

[Owen Spencer-Thomas]

Please note the following announcement from Michael Goater

Bishop's Adviser for Emergency Planning.  He advises reading the details carefully as there are some important caveats:

In the light of continuing consultation with the Department of Health, and with updated information on the course of the Swine Flu pandemic, the Archbishops have advised us that the normal administration of Holy Communion SHOULD RESUME.   

 

HOWEVER -

 

1.         The Archbishops will continue to monitor the situation closely. 

2.         The pandemic alert level remains high.  It is crucial that good hygiene continues.  Specifically  

a.         in respect of the bread - 

·         communion should not be given on the tongue;

·         care should be taken to ensure that the fingers of the person distributing the sacrament do not come into contact with the communicants' hands;

·         high standards of hand hygiene should be maintained with soap and water or handrubs;

 

b.         in respect of the wine - 

·         intinction by the communicant should be discouraged, and is an undesirable practice even by Eucharistic ministers, since the Department of Health advise that the practice may present a greater risk factor than the common cup;    

·         the use of individual communion cups is not lawful in the Church of England;

·         a chalice of gold, silver or other metal should be used rather than of pottery, and especially of unglazed pottery;

·         the rim of the chalice should be firmly wiped with a purificator after each communicant;

·         the same part of the purificator should not be used repeatedly, nor should it be allowed to become sodden;

·         in addition to ritual ablutions, the chalice should be thoroughly cleaned after use.

 

3.         Local discretion should be observed where there is continuing concern about the incidence of swine flu in the community.    

4.         Communicants should feel free to choose to receive communion in one kind only.  While communion in both kinds is the norm in the Church of England, in faithfulness to Christ's institution, when it is received faithfully only in one kind the fullness of the Sacrament is received none the less.   

It is important to remember that, while the common cup may now represent a minimal risk for healthy adults, the evidence regarding the link between a shared chalice and transmission of disease is mixed and suggests that for those whose immune systems have been compromised a notable hazard may still be present.  Neither the alcoholic content of wine  nor the antiseptic qualities of noble metals provide protection against the flu virus, which can survive for a significant period outside a host body.  

Communicants who have been identified by the Department of Health as being at increased risk from contracting the swine flu virus will need to consider whether they should return yet to their former Eucharistic practice.  

The Archbishops conclude their communiqué by thanking us for our patience and cooperation during this recent challenging period.   The text of their letter is on the Church of England website. 

Bishop Anthony commends the Archbishops' advice to the Diocese and urges the importance of continued vigilance and safe practice.   He joins the Archbishops in thanking everyone for their patience and cooperation in the difficult months since Easter.

The Diocesan guidelines (see the Diocesan web site) will be amended.  



Michael Goater

Bishop's Adviser for Emergency Planning

27.11.09