Merced County churches prepare to reopen for worship as coronavirus cases rise to 273
For the first time in months, Merced County churches are opening their doors with state approval following the governor’s Monday announcement that churches statewide may resume in-person religious services with modifications.
The news means a step forward for churches in Merced County and statewide, which until recently have been limited to online or drive-thru services. Some places like the city of Atwater have defied the state by giving the green light to churches to open without fear of local retaliation.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s guidelines for worship amid the coronavirus pandemic include restrictions. Capacity must be limited to 25% or a maximum of 100 attendees for at least three weeks after counties revise their public health order to allow services to continue. Similar modifications are in place for funeral services.
State and county health departments will then assess the limitations’ effects. The Merced County Department of Public Health Tuesday released guidelines approving religious services with modifications locally.
Sanitation, social distancing and face covering guidelines – as well as recommendations to limit singing, group recitation and other activities that increase transmission from exhaled droplets – are also listed. The governor strongly encouraged online services to continue.
Merced County churches reopen slowly
While Merced County pastors say reopening is good news for the faithful, some say they will take a measured approach in returning their congregation to the church.
United Methodist Church of Merced is not considering reopening at this point, said Pastor Ella Luna-Garza. She said the church is working on a reopening strategy, but does not yet feel comfortable enough to do so in a way that properly protects the congregation.
Senior Pastor Al Schaap said Gateway Community Church intends to reopen, but with a slow, staged approach.
“The plan is to kind of run through this weekend with some of our Sunday morning volunteers like a dress rehearsal,” Schaap said. “We’re not in a rush.”
Before COVID-19, Gateway welcomed about 500-600 attendees between two rooms each Sunday, Schaap said. Now, church officials plan to work up to the 100-person limit in phases, utilizing a first-come-first-serve system when capacity is reached.
Gateway will continue online services for those who are vulnerable to the disease or don’t feel comfortable returning to church, Schaap said.
“They’re really hurting from the isolation, from the loneliness,” he said, noting that some people get their only meaningful human contact each week at church. “We’re going to try to help them, but we’re going to have to modify that.”
The church recently opened a survey to gauge attendees’ attitude toward returning to in-person worship. Schaap said responses range from both ends of the spectrum, with some people wanting to be very careful and others advocating for no restrictions on services at all.
Although Schaap said he thinks Newsom has overreached his authority in some ways, he hopes that restrictions loosen soon. But Schaap said he does think there is some wisdom in waiting three weeks to see how reopening goes.
“We want to make sure we’re doing things best we can and obeying the laws,” he said. “At this point, we don’t think they’re against what God says.”
Coronavirus in Merced County
Merced County’s coronavirus tally rose by five cases to 273 total Tuesday, according to County Public Health. Of those, 100 cases are active, 166 are recoveries and seven are fatalities.
The county’s most recent COVID-19 related death was reported Monday. The individual was a man over age 65 with underlying health conditions, the county said.
The City of Merced continues to lead significantly as the community with the most infected residents in the county. The city claims 104 individuals having tested positive for COVID-19. Los Banos comes in second at 57 confirmed cases.
In California Tuesday, there were 96,956 known coronavirus cases and 3,777 deaths.
Also Tuesday, Newsom announced regions like Merced County that have been approved by the state to reopen at a faster pace may begin opening hair salons and barbershops back up.
State guidelines direct both hair salon employees and customers to wear face coverings while conducting business. Recommendations also include temperature checks and enhanced sanitation.
Salon activities that cannot be done with face coverings like shaving, facials and waxing are not yet permitted. Nail salons are excluded as well.
This story was originally published May 26, 2020 at 4:36 PM.
