Press Releases29 Oct 01

FOOT AND MOUTH: GUIDANCE FOR PARISHES

In response to requests for guidance in relation to church activities and the foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, we wish to generally recommend that all parishes should consider

• putting in place disinfectant procedures at entrances to Church property (churches and graveyards in particular)
• requiring vehicles and persons passing over entrances to church property to cross disinfected mats or disinfected hay or straw
• restricting entry to property to one entrance door/gate if possible
• placing foot baths/or disinfected mats at pedestrian entrances to Church buildings
• postponing all non-essential events involving bringing people together from farming communities until further notice

It is not possible to be more specific since circumstances will vary and this note is intended simply to provide a basic framework of suggestions and recommendations within which local decisions should be made having particular regard to the ongoing advice of the respective Government Departments in both jurisdictions.

For further information:

Websites:

N.I.: http://www.dani.gov.uk/footandmouth
R of I:  http://irlgov.ie/daff/AreasofI/FMD

Helplines:

NI:  028 9052 4279/4590
R of I: 1 890 607 608