STA, 2 June 2020 - The Catholic Church issued new guidelines on Monday after the epidemic officially ended in Slovenia. Priests will no longer stream masses online and healthy believers may attend holy mass without face masks if the appropriate distance of 1.5 metres can be kept between them.
The distancing rule does not apply to members of the same household, while children do not have to wear masks but have to observe the same social distancing rules as in schools, the Slovenian Bishops' Conference decided.
Holy water must not be used, instead hand disinfectants must be available to believers at church entries. Churches must be thoroughly aired after every mass. Those open also outside mass hours must be regularly cleaned and aired.
Confession is only possible if appropriate protective guards are fitted in the confessional, the believer must wear a mask and disinfect their hands. Confessions via telephone or the web remain prohibited.
Funerals are allowed under the same state-issued assembly restrictions. Currently public gatherings of about 200 people in the open are allowed in Slovenia.
