_{A priest distributes communion at St Mary’s Cathedral. Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has this week issued a statement in relation to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID–19) to the Perth Catholic community following public health advice from state and federal governments. Photo: Ron Tan.}

By Jamie O’Brien

Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has this week issued a statement in relation to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID–19) to the Perth Catholic community following public health advice from state and federal governments.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus, with patients experiencing symptoms from a mild cough to pneumonia. The virus was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan City in China.

_{Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has this week issued a statement in relation to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID–19) to the Perth Catholic community following public health advice from state and federal governments. Photo: Ron Tan.}

Bishop Sproxton said that the Archdiocese of Perth continues to be guided by this advice through our ongoing commitment to monitoring any threat posed by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID–19) to Catholic communities across our Archdiocese.

“In my capacity as the Administrator of the Archdiocese of Perth, I am issuing the following directives, effective from today, Wednesday 4 March 2020, to all clergy, religious and the lay faithful across the Archdiocese of Perth,” Bishop Sproxton said.

“These preventative measures should be appropriately communicated to the congregation and the broader Catholic community.”

_{Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has this week issued a statement in relation to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID–19) to the Perth Catholic community following public health advice from state and federal governments, which includes that the distribution of Holy Communion under both species is to cease. Photo: Jamie O’Brien}

Perth was this week the first city in Australia to experience a death caused by the virus, after 78-year-old James Kwan contracted the disease on board the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, before his health deteriorated rapidly while he was in isolation in hospital.

Mr Kwan's 79-year-old wife has also been tested positive for the virus and remains at the same hospital in a stable condition.

In releasing the statement this week, the subsequent directives, explained Bishop Sproxton, are temporary and will remain in place until such time as Archbishop Costelloe SDB issues revised directives.

_{Holy Water is to be removed from stoups in all Churches and Chapels across the Archdiocese of Perth, following directives from Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton this week, in relation to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID–19). Photo: Supplied.}

The directives include:

• Holy Water is to be removed from stoups in all Churches and Chapels.
• Offertory gifts are to be in closed vessels or, where this is not possible, vessels should be appropriately covered.
• The Sign of Peace is to be omitted at all Masses.
• The distribution of Holy Communion under both species is to cease.
• The Precious Blood is not to be shared from the chalice at any Masses and is reserved to the celebrant(s) only.
• Priests are to encourage communicants to receive the Sacred Host in the hand, not on the tongue.
• All priests and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are to wash their hands in soap and water, or are to use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser both immediately before and immediately after the distribution of Holy Communion.

“All of the above precautionary directives are additional to our normal requirements that all sacred vessels are thoroughly washed before and after each Mass,” Bishop Sproxton said.

The Health Department of Western Australia has advised that travellers returning from overseas, and anyone feeling unwell, should;

1. Self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 (urinary tract or gastrointestinal symptoms)
2. Practice social distancing
   1. Avoid crowds and gatherings
   2. Maintain a distance of 1.5 meters between themselves and other people
3. Immediately isolate themselves if they become unwell (recommended treatment is paracetamol and oral fluids) and seek medical help.

In the statement released by Bishop Sproxton this week, congregations are asked to exert additional awareness and fulfilment of the normal obligation. These instructions include

• Parishioners who feel unwell should not attend Mass, and are excused from their normal obligation.
• Parishioners who feel they may be at risk of infection if they go to Mass should refrain from attending Mass and are excused their normal obligation.
• Priests and parishioners who attend Mass should practice good hygiene (cover mouths and noses when sneezing, coughing etc), refrain from touching their face or mouth, and refrain from shaking hands with others before or after Mass.

_{Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has this week issued a statement in relation to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID–19) to the Perth Catholic community following public health advice from state and federal governments, which includes the omission of the Sign of Peace at all Masses. Photo: Matthew Lau}

“I encourage you to join with me in praying for all those who have passed away or who have been affected by coronavirus; for the women and men working tirelessly to care for those affected; and for the development of a vaccine,” Bishop Sproxton concluded.

In a statement also released yesterday, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) said they will continue to monitor advice from health authorities and other episcopal conferences. This advice will be updated as and when appropriate.

Additional information and access to daily health alerts can be obtained from the Australian Government’s Department of Health: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov