Guidelines for your COVID-19 Pesach Seder

This year’s Seder will be unique in terms of the unprecedented concessions that will have to be made to address the very serious times we live in. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of major adjustments will have to be made on Seder night to minimise the possible spreading of the virus and infecting of loved ones, particularly the more vulnerable members of our community and the country at large.

Naturally, each family will need to make their own decisions as to the planning and invitations.

The following three principles should govern the planning of forthcoming sedorim:-

1. Having risk groups participating, i.e. the elderly and those of the community with underlying chronic medical conditions and immunosuppression.

2. Young children and their behaviour at the seder table, especially if vulnerable adults are present.

3. Social distancing – as far as possible to ensure that people are distanced at least a metre apart.

Prepared by Professor Barry D Schoub, Founding Former Director of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Professor Emeritus of Virology, University of the Witwatersrand