Swine Flu GUIDELINES are issued today by the Church in Wales recommending that only consecrated bread is taken during Holy Communion during the swine flu outbreak rather than both bread and wine
SWINE FLU: ‘No wine for communion’ – church
GUIDELINES recommending that only consecrated bread is taken during Holy Communion during the swine flu outbreak – rather than both bread and wine – are issued today by the Church in Wales.
Advice for those taking Holy Communion is available on the Church in Wales website following UK government guidelines to help prevent the spread of swine flu.
The guidelines will apply to around 200 churches in the Diocese of Monmouth.
They recommend that while the distribution of consecrated bread should continue, the bread should not be given on the tongue and care should be taken there is no contact between the two people’s fingers when the bread is given.
It is also advised that use of the common cup should be suspended until the risk of contamination decreases and warns that dipping consecrated bread into a common cup may also carry a greater risk.
The guidelines state: “Fingers generally carry a higher level of contamination than lips, so consecrated bread handled by an infected person and then dipped into a common cup will carry a risk of contaminating the consecrated wine. Similarly fingers may dip into the consecrated wine.”
A Church in Wales spokeswoman said the guidelines were drafted in line with government advice in response to growing concerns from people asking for advice on the matter.
In Gwent, the number of reported cases per 100,000 of the population varies. There are 130.1 cases in Blaenau Gwent, 129.2 in Caerphilly, 63.6 in Monmouthshire, 180.1 in Newport and 174.5 in Torfaen.
The average for Gwent is 144.4 cases per 100,000.
A total of 78 people in Wales have been laboratory diagnosed with the virus, with 17 hospitalised.
Anti-viral drugs are now only being offered to groups traditionally at risk from seasonal flu – those considered more susceptible to developing illness or complications – plus pregnant women and children under five.
Preventative medicine will no longer be given to people with whom a flu patient has been in contact and the tracing of any potential contacts will also stop.
Phone the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513 for more information.
Tags: Church Life