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News
Indoor weddings and baptisms to resume from 10th July
The Northern Ireland Executive on Monday, 6th July agreed indicative arrangements for the resumption of indoor weddings, civil partnerships and baptisms.
The Executive statement read;
Ministers have agreed that places of worship will be enabled to resume baptisms from Friday, July 10.
They have also agreed that indoor marriage ceremonies in places of worship can resume from Friday, July 10. Local government offices and other venues can resume marriage and civil partnership services from the same date.
It will be up to venues to determine their precise opening dates for ceremonies.
Venues will determine if they wish to provide post-ceremony celebrations.
Numbers attending indoor marriage and civil partnership ceremonies and post-ceremony celebrations will be determined by the venue on a risk assessed basis, taking account of the individual circumstances of each and adhering to all relevant public health advice and industry guidance.
The proposed changes to the Coronavirus restrictions will be confirmed by the Executive on Thursday July 9.
Couples contacting Registrars and officiants to rearrange their marriages should be aware that there is a backlog of couples waiting but every effort will be made to accommodate everyone as soon as possible.
The Executive also gave the following advice for funerals;
There is an increased risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) where families and communities come together following the death, from any cause, of a loved one. It is strongly advised that public health advice is followed to reduce the spread of infection.
Funeral services can be conducted in a place of worship or in a funeral home. The size and circumstances of the venue will determine the maximum number that can attend the service safely whilst observing social distancing of at least two metres, wherever possible.
It is recommended that face coverings are used for indoor services.
Whilst the number of mourners at a funeral service will be determined by the size of the venue following risk assessment, a maximum of only 30 are permitted to gather for the committal at the graveside.