Californians are still free to attend their house of worship. But they’re not supposed to sing or chant.
Citing the risk of spreading the coronavirus, updated COVID-19 guidelines issued Wednesday by the state Department of Public Health say “places of worship must therefore discontinue singing and chanting activities.”
In previously allowing religious organizations to reopen in late May, the state merely said these institutions should “strongly consider discontinuing singing, group recitation, and other practices and performances.”
California Unveils Lions' Den For Christians Who Sing In Church...California Worship Enforcement Officers began rounding up offenders to throw into the lions' den. "You're a good, good, FaAAAAHHHHH!!!" cried one worship leader in Southern California as he was tased and pulled off the stage by officers. The congregation wanted to rush to his defense, but they were honestly kinda happy "Good, Good Father" was over.
Fortunately, the lions were on loan from the San Franscisco Zoo and so were vegans.
I hate to say this, but in general, the state is right about this. Singing in church has been shown to be a major cause of superspreader events. There have been a number of them in South Korea, one I know of in Germany, and 1 in Washington State.
ReplyDeleteSinging (and shouting in demonstrations) efficiently creates aerosols of the virus, and those aerosols stay aloft longer than droplets and infect people nearby.
As for the First Amendment - all rights are conditional on compelling government needs (or however the courts word it). But, the restrictions have to be both necessary and non-discriminatory. The California restriction goes too far in that it doesn't exempt churches that can keep the singers from infecting each other and others via distancing and appropriate ventilation.