At the suggestion of some priests, the Slovenian Bishops' Conference addressed the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) with a request for an opinion. Are priests celebrating masses allowed to use a protective screen (e.g. Plexiglas) instead of a mask?

In its response of January 7, 2021, the NIJZ stated that this is not possible due to the current poor epidemiological picture. Screens could not substitute masks. The transmission of the pathogen is aerogenous, which a barrier cannot prevent. The SBC asks and urges all priests to wear masks during worship consistently and not sing. They should also always observe the Slovenian bishops' instructions of December 18, 2020, and their ordinaries' instructions.

Dr Tadej Strehovec

Secretary-General of SBC