Catholic bishops are ready to order the closure of churches and advise Mass-goers against giving each other the sign of peace to reduce the risk of swine flu if health experts step up their advice.A spokesman for the said the bishops had discussed the swine flu threat at their summer meeting and agreed that each diocese should decide on what precautionary actions are to be taken.
The news came after Fr Cathal O Fearrai, of the parish of Kilbarron in south Donegal, announced that all priests and lay ministers of the eucharist should wash their hands with sanitiser before giving out communion.
He is also stopping the sharing of the sign of peace in several churches in the parish.
A Catholic Church spokesman said yesterday that the bishops were willing to urge people to avoid physical contact in the church by not giving the sign of peace or even receiving communion, but they would be guided by the public health experts in the HSE.
It is possible that they will recommend that members of the public stay away from Mass if they have symptoms of flu.
At the moment, however, the advice from the HSE is that churches, schools and other public places should continue as normal while observing basic safeguards on sneezing, coughing and handwashing.
The latest figures show that the numbers contracting the virus have actually plateaued.
Figures show that there were 37.4 cases per 100,000 last week, which is broadly in line with the previous six weeks.
The numbers contracting swine flu are significantly lower than those recorded for the 'normal' flu during the winter months.
While the swine flu numbers are currently at 37.4 per 100,000, the peak of the flu last winter was around 120 per 100,000 -- almost four times as many.
The fact that numbers are remaining largely static is seen as significant, especially because schools are now back. It had been feared that numbers would spike when children went back to the classroom.
In the email to staff, health chiefs also state that Ireland is well prepared for the pandemic, but warn that we "cannot become complacent".
"The virus exhibits some worrying behaviours which we do not fully understand as of yet. It also has the potential to become more virulent."
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