Catholic churches in South Korea have resumed community prayers, maintaining strict precautions of social distancing as they gathered for worship after a gap of two months.

With Cheongju and Jeonju dioceses resuming public services on April 28, at least 12 of the 16 dioceses in the country have resumed public worship, which was stopped around Ash Wednesday on Feb. 26 as a way to check the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Religious activities resumed as social and economic life gathered steam after authorities lifted restrictions on public meetings on April 26 following a drop in virus infections.

Seoul Archdiocese was among the first to resume Masses on April 23 and conducted Sun-day Mass on April 26, but it insisted on registration of worshipers to restrict their numbers.

Church and civil authorities have asked people to wear masks and keep social distancing norms within churches as a precaution.

“I’m very happy to celebrate Mass with you beloved people after missing Masses for two months, including Easter Mass,” said Auxiliary Bishop Benedict Son Heesong, the vicar general of Seoul. “We cannot sing hymns [for fear of spreading the virus through droplets] and we have to restrict numbers.”