Nearly 200 pastors are calling on Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) to lift restrictions on in-person church services as the state begins allowing some businesses to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The pastors sent a letter to Sisolak on Thursday telling the governor that his order prohibiting in-person services of more than 10 people went “too far.”
“We respectfully submit that restrictions on in-person church services are more burdensome than they need to be in order to accomplish our shared goal of preventing the spread of COVID-19,” the pastors wrote, according to a copy of the letter reported by The Nevada Independent.
The pastors added that there is “no evidence” in the state that “houses of worship have in any way contributed to the spread of COVID-19.”
“Prohibiting in-person church service is not necessary given the reasonable steps we have all taken to protect our congregations and the communities we serve,” they wrote. “While we understand your concern for the health and safety of people in our state, we simply ask that you understand that we share your concern, and that you can trust us to lead and protect our faith communities as we minister to people in need of our care and comfort.”
The pastors also note that the state has begun lifting some restrictions as part of the first phase of the gradual plan to reopen the economy. The pastors said that the first phase of the plan “appears to us to be arbitrary” in terms of which businesses are allowed to reopen.
A spokesperson for Sisolak was not immediately available for comment.
Nevada entered the first phase of its reopening plan last week. The first phase allows for drive-up religious services to continue to be permitted.
The first phase also allows for restaurants to have in-person dining at 50 percent capacity, and barbershops, salons and nail shops to reopen with additional requirements.