The Archdiocese of Chicago also released March 3 coronavirus prevention guidelines, which urged hygienic practices and recalled that the ill are not obliged to attend Mass. There have been four confirmed cases of coronavirus in Illinois.
The Chicago archdiocese also said that there should not be physical contact at the sign of peace, hand holding during the Our Father, or the use of holy water fonts, and that Holy Communion should be distributed only under the species of bread.
It added that "given the frequency of direct contact with saliva in the distribution of Holy Communion on the tongue, every consideration should be given by each individual to receive Holy Communion reverently in open hands for the time being."
The Diocese of Spokane has shared a factsheet and guidelines on coronavirus preparedness it received from Catholic Mutual, which advises these adjustments "after a pandemic has been declared": distribution of Holy Communion only under the species of bread; not passing collection baskets; and bowing rather than shaking hands at the sign of peace.
According to Catholic Mutual, "Communion on the tongue is strongly discouraged" after the declaration of pandemic. The World Health Organization has not declared a coronavirus pandemic.
Catholic Mutual added that "if the pandemic progresses to a more serious stage" more changes may need to be made, such as the emptying of Holy Water fonts, seating in alternate rows of pews, and limits on the number of attendees to baptisms, weddings, or funerals.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales issued guidance on coronavirus dated Feb. 27 saying that in the current stage of coronavirus – characterized by very few cases in the UK and no cases in local parishes – the key thing for parishes to do is to urge that good hygiene be maintained.
The are 80 confirmed cases of coronavirus in England, and one in Wales. There has been one death in England due to the disease.
The English and Welsh bishops also directed that that this stage, parishes "ask anyone with cold or flu symptoms to refrain from the physical sign of peace, taking communion from the Chalice and advise they should receive the host on the hand only."
It added that those attending Mass should be asked to sanitize their hands as they enter, and that "there is no need as things stand for the Chalice to be withdrawn or the of sign of peace suspended … This advice would only come if we had a very serious epidemic in the UK."
The English and Welsh bishops advised that if the situation progresses such that there are a number of cases in local communities or a case specifically linked to a parish community, then Communion should be distributed only under the species of bread, the Host is "to be given on the hand only", and that care should be taken in distribution that the minister not touch the recipient's hands.
In that stage, the bishops also advise the suspension of the physical sign of peace, removal of holy water stoups, cessation of use of shared hymn books and missals, and not passing a collection plate.
Should a third stage be reached, when there are many cases in local parishes, the English and Welsh bishops said that "Mass and Liturgy in public should be suspended and parish gatherings suspended."
The Latin Mass Society issued a statement March 2 welcoming the English and Welsh bishops' guidelines, while noting they "do not take the form of a decree with the force of canon law."
The group noted that at celebrations of the extraordinary form of the Roman rite, "the Sign of Peace is not given among members of the congregation; the Precious Blood is not distributed to the Faithful (from the Chalice); and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are not employed. In these respects these celebrations already adhere to or render unnecessary recommendations given in the Guidelines for a heightened level of hygiene necessary in the case of a more serious outbreak of the virus."
The Latin Mass Society added that in Masses said in the extraordinary form, Holy Communion "may not be distributed in the hand, according to the universal liturgical law applicable to them. Should the spread of COVID-19 necessitate the suspension of the distribution of Holy Communion on the tongue, this would mean the suspension of the distribution of Holy Communion to the Faithful in these celebrations."
It noted that "the Communion of the Faithful is in no way necessary to the validity or liceity (in such circumstances) of the Mass. Should prudence dictate the necessity for such a step, the Faithful should be encouraged to make a 'Spiritual Communion'."
"We wish to observe, however, that the distribution of the Host in the hand does not appear to be less likely to spread infection than the distribution on the tongue," the Latin Mass Society wrote.
"On the contrary, distribution on the hand has the result that the Host touches possibly infected surfaces, the palm of the left hand and the fingers of the right hand of the communicant, which is avoided in distribution by a priest directly onto the communicant's tongue."