California Issues Guidelines for Reopening Places of Worship

Move follows Trump stating he would 'override' governors who maintain ban

Demonstrators holding signs demanding their church to reopen, protest during a rally to reopen California and against stay-at-home directives San Diego, California, on May 1, 2020. Sandy Huffaker/AFP via Getty Images

California state officials released new guidelines on May 25 for reopening churches and other places of worship, days after President Donald Trump threatened to “override the governors,” of any states where in-person services are still banned.

The guidelines, released by the state’s Department of Public Health, call for churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious groups to limit attendance to 25 percent of the building’s capacity, or a maximum of 100 people, whichever is lower. This limitation will be in effect for the first 21 days of a county public health department’s approval of religious services and cultural ceremonial activities at places of worship within their jurisdictions.

They also ask that churches frequently sanitize pews, microphones, and other high-traffic areas in sanctuaries and discourage sharing items used in worship and services, such as prayer books, cushions, and prayer rugs whenever possible.

The state also says these places of worship should implement physical distancing of at least 6 feet between staff and congregants, while members of the same household may be seated together but should maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other households.

Congregants or visitors should also be screened for temperature and symptoms upon arrival to places of worship and asked to use hand sanitizer and to wear face coverings, according to the guidelines, and places of worship should take “reasonable measures,” including posting signage in strategic and highly-visible locations, to remind visitors that they should use face coverings and practice physical distancing whenever possible. Babies and children under age 2 should not wear face coverings, in accordance with CDC guidelines.

The guidance states that places of worship should continue to provide services through alternative methods such as via live streaming whenever possible and to shorten those services that do take place in person, and try to conduct them outdoors whenever possible.

Other recommendations include halting food and drink services within places of worship, discouraging staff and visitors from shaking hands or hugging, and suspending group recitations, like choir practices and performances, where there’s an increased risk of transmission, and closing or restricting common areas such as break rooms, kitchenettes, and foyers.

As for funeral services, the guidelines ask that places of worship consider limiting the number of people allowed at funerals, wakes, and other similar services and remind attendees, whenever possible, to keep following social distancing guidelines.

Places of worship across the United States have been forced to shut down amid strict lockdown restrictions and stay-at-home orders put in place to prevent the spread of the CCP virus, commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus.

However, President Trump on Friday called upon governors across the United States to allow churches and other houses of worship to reopen if they haven’t already done so, describing them as “essential places that provide essential services.”

“The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important, essential places of faith to open right now,” he said during a press conference. “For this weekend. If they don’t do it, I will override the governors.”