Diocese of Derry - COVID-19 restrictions - 16 October 2020

Parishes in Northern Ireland

Additional restrictions have been announced by the Northern Ireland Executive, arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The regulations were introduced on 16 October 2020 and will be in place for four weeks.

1. OPEN: Churches remain open.
2. FACE-COVERINGS: People must wear face-coverings to enter or leave the church – this is mandatory;
3. FUNERALS AND WEDDINGS: Funerals and Weddings are restricted to only 25 people.

The website of the NI Executive Office has issued some additional detail in respect of weddings:

"Wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships to be limited to 25 people with no receptions. This will be implemented on Monday, 19 October. Venues providing the post-ceremony or partnership celebration this weekend may remain open for this purpose but may not provide other services for people who are not part of the wedding or partnership party and this will be limited to 25."

Full details can be found on NIDirect by clicking here.

Parishes in the County Donegal

1. CLOSED: Churches are open for private prayer only. Not for any other purpose.
2. FUNERALS: Funerals can proceed with up to 25 mourners attending;
3. WEDDINGS: While weddings planned for this weekend (16th October) can still proceed with a limit of 25 guests, from Monday 19^th October weddings can proceed with a limit of 6 guests (and guests cannot leave their county to attend a wedding);