Fresno County’s top health official says church restrictions make sense amid coronavirus
Fresno County’s top health official said Wednesday the state’s guidelines to restrict the number of people inside a place of worship are sound and church leaders would do well to follow them.
Interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra was asked during a Zoom call about gathering places during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We have to remember we are in a very novel period when it comes to infectious diseases,” he said. “No one really has that much experience with coronavirus. No one really knows what happens when you have a bunch of people congregating in any gathering.”
“When you’re dealing with a factor that has the stakes that it does, I think it’s wise to err on the side of caution,” he said.
Vohra’s comment comes the same day Cornerstone Church pastor Jim Franklin said he would defy orders from Gov. Gavin Newsom to restrict attendance to a quarter of church capacity or 100 people, whichever is smaller.
Franklin called the orders a violation of religious freedom, and said he planned to join a federal lawsuit against the restrictions. Cornerstone’s capacity is 1,400, so 350 would be allowed to attend the church safely, Franklin said.
The orders require shorter services, social distancing and other protective measures that would remain in place for three weeks after worship centers open.
Vohra said 21 days is a good measure of time to allow for potential infections to run their course and for officials to monitor if more parishioners are showing symptoms after the doors open.
“I agree with this rationale,” he said. “Not that we’re hoping people catch this virus or transmit it, but if it does happen we want to be able to control it.”
County policy
Franklin and Peoples Church pastor Larry Powell asked the Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for special permission to open their huge churches to more than just 100 people at a time.
Powell said his church could safely hold 700. The board ultimately adopted the state policy but said staff would look into a potential lawsuit.
Newsom announced the extensive set of guidelines Monday. They include closing off areas typically used for mingling and discouraging hugs or any other touching.
Health officials have said the county has not flattened the curve of COVID-19. Ninety-six new positive cases of coronavirus on Wednesday bring the total in Fresno County to 1,631 positive tests. Thirty people in Fresno County have died due to conditions related to the virus since the beginning of the pandemic; 190 have been hospitalized and 519 have recovered.
