COVID-19: Florida Governor categorises religious services as 'essential business'

With the United States witnessing an exponential rise in the coronavirus cases, Florida Governor finally announced stay-at-home order but exempted religious services. According to media reports, Governor Ron DeSantis argued that religious services conducted in houses of worship are “essential services” hence exempted from stay-at-home order.

Religious congregations around the world have become a major impediment in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities are finding it difficult to stop such congregations even after issuance of stay-at-home orders and lockdowns. But such exemptions under “essential services” could further jeopardise the mitigation plan and attempts made doe flattening the curve.

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'Virus doesn't discriminate'

Florida Governor was already facing widespread criticism for delaying the stay-at-home orders and endangering lives of Americans which forced him to impose movement restrictions. But the exemption for religious services has started another wave of criticism for the Republic leader amid worrying reports of Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne of Florida’s River at Tampa Bay Church holding religious services.

“This virus doesn’t discriminate – it endangers people whether they gather for religious or secular purposes, and it puts entire communities at risk,"  said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, in a statement.

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Social media is also abuzz after the exemption for religious services was announced and netizens lashed out at DeSantis for such order.

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