Places of worship allowed to reopen statewide with some restrictions

The California Public Health Department announced on Monday that places of worship can now reopen statewide for religious services and funerals. Retail stores may also offer in-store shopping.

This announcement comes one day after President Trump declared churches and other places of worship as essential. He called on governors nationwide to allow them to reopen over Memorial Day weekend, saying he would override any governor's who attempt to stop them from reopening.

While California churches are allowed to reopen, the CDC has issued some guidelines and restrictions for communities of faith, and retail stores, to follow as they prepare to welcome people back to their buildings.

California Public Health said that, under this new guidance, places of worship should limit attendance to 25% of their building’s capacity – or up to 100 attendees, whichever is lower – upon approval by their county's department of public health.

In addition to limiting attendance, places of worship are also asked to follow the other safety guidelines:

• Establish and implement a COVID-19 prevention plan for every location, train staff on the plan, and regularly evaluate workplaces for compliance.
• Train employees and volunteers on COVID-19, including how to prevent it from spreading and which underlying health conditions may make individuals more susceptible to contracting the virus.
• Implement cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
• Set physical distancing guidelines.
• Recommend that staff and guests wear cloth face coverings, and screen staff for temperature and symptoms at the beginning of their shifts.
• Set parameters around or consider eliminating singing and group recitations. These activities dramatically increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission. For this reason, congregants engaging in singing, particularly in the choir, and group recitation should wear face coverings at all times and when possible, these activities should be conducted outside with greater than 6-foot distancing. 
• Consistent with the community’s faith tradition, consider temporarily limiting the sharing of frequently touched objects, such as worship aids, prayer rugs, prayer books, hymnals, religious texts and other bulletins, books, or other items passed or shared among congregants, and encouraging congregants to bring their own such items, if possible, or photocopying or projecting prayers, songs, and texts using electronic means.

“Together, our actions have helped bend the curve and reduce infections in our state. As sectors continue to open with changes that aim to lower risk, remember that COVID-19 is still present in our communities,” said Dr. Sonia Angell, State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health. “As more of us may be leaving our homes, keeping physical distance, wearing face coverings in public, and washing your hands frequently are more important than ever to help protect yourself and those around you.”

CA Public Health said that the existing guidance for retailers who were reopening under their county's advanced approval is now applicable statewide. This includes training employees on COVID-19 safety, regularly cleaning the work environment, and more.

Public Health clarified that retail stores do not include personal services such as hair salons, nail salons and barbershops.

In 21 days, the Department of Public Health, in consultation with local departments of public health, will review and assess the impact of the religious services guidelines and provide further direction as part of their plan to phase-in normal activities.

This 21-day interval accounts for seven days for religious communities to prepare and reopen in addition to a 14-day incubation period of COVID-19.

The CDC's full list of guidance for communities of faith can be read here.

For more information on California's response to COVID-19, visit the California Department of Public Health's guidance webpage.