The UK Government has expanded on the restriction placed on congregational singing, noting that it causes a "risk of increased transmission" of Covid-19 and must therefore be prohibited.
When pressed on the matter by the Bishop of St Albans in the House of Lords today, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Baroness Barran, said that both singing and the use of wind instruments presented a risk.
She explained:
"Our understanding is that, as I am sure the Rt Rev Prelate is aware, there is a risk of increased transmission involved in singing and the use of wind instruments.
"That is why non-professional choirs and orchestras will not resume for the time being, although professional orchestras can start rehearsing from 4 July on a socially distanced basis. As the Rt Rev Prelate mentioned, we have commissioned scientific studies, which are being carried out by SAGE, to try to build a really robust evidence base. That advice will be used to inform future policy and guidelines."
Churches will be able to hold services of public worship from this Saturday, though congregants will need to adhere to strict social distancing and hygiene guidelines in order to minimise the risk of infection. In its latest guidance, the Church of England said that there will be "no numerical ‘cap’ on other services" so long as social distancing and Public Health requirements are met. There will, however, be a limit of 30 people for "weddings and other ‘stand-alone’ services such as baptism and confirmation" that are not conducted during routine communal worship.
The Church of England has also permitted the use of outdoor spaces for the hosting of worship services.