As Easter approaches, the Anglican Church of Canada is changing the way mass is celebrated to avoid the spread of novel coronavirus.

Rev. Andrew Asbil, the Anglican bishop of Toronto, advised churchgoers in a letter this week to refrain from shaking hands or offering hugs during mass when peace offerings are exchanged.

The church is suspending the sharing of wine in the communal cup. But communion bread will continue to be given out during mass, Asbil wrote.

These measures were also put in place in 2003, during the SARS outbreak.

Parishes are being asked to replenish holy water daily, or discontinue their use. Churchgoers are advised to regularly wash their hands and stay at home if feeling unwell.

“Together all of us can help mitigate both risk and fear in our communities by exercising this due diligence,” Asbil wrote. “Our normal liturgical customs are important to us, and we hope to reinstate them as soon as we are advised that the risk of transmission has been better contained.”

Neil MacCarthy, who speaks for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, said some parishes began shunning handshakes in 2003 during the SARS outbreak and have never returned to that nicety as parishioners have used smiling, nodding, bowing or holding up the peace sign to greet each other.

“What we’re really trying to stress is that people who are distributing communion are washing their hands before and after,” he said. “Some parishes have hand sanitizer available when people come into the church.”

Health officials in Toronto have not advised any other changes, MacCarthy said, adding parishes recommend people stay home if they are sick and watch mass online.

With files from The Canadian Press