Weddings could be restricted to five people amid coronavirus outbreak

Church weddings held during the coronavirus outbreak should be limited to five people per ceremony, the Church of England has said.

Adopting the measure would mean only a priest, the bride and groom and two witnesses are allowed to attend Church marriage ceremonies.

"Apart from the couple themselves, everyone else should observe a social distance as far as possible," the church said in a statement.

"The guidance makes clear that traditions such as the priest touching the rings or the couple’s hands as part of a prayer or blessing are not required."

The Church added it was committed to helping families who prefer to rearrange ceremonies to a future date or proceed but hold a public blessing at a later date.

The Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, said: "Couples and parents, friends and families will have been planning for months, even years for their special moment, whether a wedding or a christening.

"Now it can go ahead – but with only the minimum required in attendance. You may need to cancel or postpone.

"Whatever decision is made, God’s love and blessing will still surround all those who would have been there that day."

Similar measures were also recommended for baptisms, meanwhile, "with numbers limited to the candidate, their parents (or guardians or carers), the godparents and the minister".

"The priest should not hold the child and ... water should be administered with an appropriate implement such as a shell," the Church's statement said, adding that only clergy and parents should join the candidate at the font, with godparents maintaining a social distance.

The advice came just hours after NHS England said a further 29 patients in England have died after testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the overall UK death toll to 137.

More than 2,600 people have tested positive for coronavirus virus nationwide, but the actual number of cases is estimated to be far higher.

The virus poses a particular danger to the elderly and people with underlying health conditions.