On a weekend when many would normally be heading to church and visiting family, state officials are urging Hoosiers to adjust their plans from previous years. Governor Eric Holcomb suggests that the best way religious groups can continue safely serving their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic is to close their physical locations and offer livestreams or virtual services.
“If that’s at home, livestreaming a sermon, I’m loving it,” Holcomb said during Thursday’s COVID-19 press conference. “If that’s taking communion on your sofa, I’m loving it. If that’s kneeling in front of a television is how unique that experience may be, I’m loving it.” The minimum number of personnel should be used for any services, and anyone not speaking should wear a mask.
The state is also allowing churches to hold drive-in services, but Holcomb said attendees must stay in their vehicles. “This is not a tailgate,” he said. “There’s going to be no physical interaction, as strange or as unusual as it may be, with clergy or staff or other participants in that worship service. Your vehicles must contain only those from your household. The cars need to be spaced out about by nine feet or more.”
If communion is distributed, it must be prepackaged and meet current food safety standards. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said she’s concerned that distributing communion could lead to people getting infected.
When asked whether he was prepared to have police break up church services, Governor Holcomb said he hoped it wouldn’t come to that. “This is about worship, and we can follow the rules,” he said. “And I expect folks who are coming to receive the word will do just that.”
Dr. Box also warned Hoosiers to adjust their family gatherings. “It’s not the family dinner with 25 or 30 people there,” she said. “Even the CDC sent out stories about families that had lost three individuals because of meeting just for a birthday party or a funeral. So please take that to heart. Please don’t expose any of your elderly individuals in your family to that potential risk.”
The governor acknowledged that staying home is a sacrifice, but said it’s also a demonstration of love.
