As coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading across the United States, religious institutions are taking unorthodox methods of containing the disease. 

According to The Seattle Times, parishioners at the St. Mary Catholic Church in Wisconsin greeted one another with bows instead of handshakes, and other churches, synagogues and mosques have adopted similar practices. 

Congregants have been asked to not hold hands while reciting the Lord’s Prayer, not to shake hands, or hug or kiss one another on the cheek. Communal cups that would normally have been used for communion have been done away with for the time being and hand sanitizer bottles have been positioned at every pew, with some churches even squirting hand sanitizer into congregants’ hands as they prepare for communion, the paper noted. 

A Seattle synagogue, Temple De Hirsch Sinai, reportedly sent out an email to members entitled “Special Message Regarding Coronavirus,” encouraging attendees to elbow bump instead of hugging one another or coming into direct physical contact. 

As there is still much to learn about the spread of coronavirus, leaders of churches and religious institutions around the world are taking steps to protect individuals who might easily become infected — such as those who are older or have pre-existing health complications. 

Some pastors, priests and reverends are even considering cancelling weekly services to help contain the spread if the virus reaches higher levels of contamination in the country, the Seattle Times noted. The potential for cancelling important religious ceremonies, such as Mass, however, might be distressing for individuals who rely on their religious institutions for strength and community. 

While individual churches are making changes as they see fit, much of what is taking place is actually education and re-education for attendees, members and congregants, as it is with the general public.

Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are essentially what these places of worship are preaching as well, the Times confirms: wash hands thoroughly, stay at home if sick, do not touch those showing signs of illness and do not touch your face.