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Updated May 28th, 2020 at 10:55 IST

US: Washington state eases curbs on religious services

Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced on Wednesday that churches, mosques and synagogues could resume in-person services, with those in counties in the second stage of the state's COVID-19 reopening plan allowed to have smaller in-building services and the remainder limited to outdoor services with no more than 100 people.

Washington state eases curbs on religious services
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Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced on Wednesday that churches, mosques and synagogues could resume in-person services, with those in counties in the second stage of the state's COVID-19 reopening plan allowed to have smaller in-building services and the remainder limited to outdoor services with no more than 100 people.

Religious organizations are required to have a plan that encompasses sanitation and physical distancing of seats or pews, limiting access points to buildings, and requiring all employees, members and visitors to wear face coverings, regardless of whether the service or event is inside or outside.

There also must be no direct physical contact, and anything to be consumed _ such as a communion wafer _ may not be presented in a communal container or a plate. Additionally, while singing is permitted during a service, people must keep face coverings on, and choirs will not be allowed to perform during services.

"We know that people treasure religious gatherings," Inslee said. "So this has been a difficult issue about how we simultaneously defeat this virus and maintain our congregations."

Twenty-four of the state's 39 counties are now in Phase 2 of the four-stage process announced earlier this month. Under the guidance issued Wednesday, organizations in Phase 2 can hold in-person services with up to 25% of the building's capacity, or 50 worshipers, whichever is less. It also allows up to five people for in-home services or counseling. For counties in Phase 1, the outdoor services must be held on the organization's property or an adjacent property.

The services covered under the new guidelines include all worship services, weddings, funerals and religious study classes, ceremonies and holiday celebrations. Religious organizations are being encouraged _ but not required _ to keep a log of attendees at each service to help trace cases in case of an outbreak.

The current metric that counties must meet to qualify for approval to move ahead to the second stage is having fewer than 10 new cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period. Their application to the state must include a local public health officer's recommendation, a letter from hospitals confirming bed capacity, and a county commission vote. The counties also have to submit testing data and information on resources available for contact tracing investigations.

(Representative Image)

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Published May 28th, 2020 at 10:55 IST

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