The chief medical officers of Wyandotte County has issued a new health order on holding religious services here.
The order goes into effect in time for some Passover and Easter services in Wyandotte County.
Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer of Wyandotte County, issued the order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, according to the document.
The order stated that churches, businesses and all other groups must avoid gatherings of more than 10 people and maintain a 6-foot distance between people.
The new order also provides rules for any religious organizations that might want to hold drive-in services.
Recent activity in the state capitol has caused confusion about religious gatherings in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and during a sacred time for people of many faiths and spiritualities, a news release from the Health Department stated.
Although the governor’s recent Executive Order 20-18 has been rescinded, the earlier Stay at Home Executive Order remains in effect until at least April 19, the UG Health Department stated. The spirit of the Stay at Home order is simple: limit the spread of this life-threatening virus by avoiding close contact with other people as much as possible, a spokesman stated.
Dr. Greiner, Mayor David Alvey, and the Unified Government strongly discourage gatherings of any size, according to the news release.
“In order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Wyandotte County, it is absolutely critical that community organizations like churches, businesses, and all of our community members stay home as much as possible, avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, and maintain a 6-foot distance between people in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Dr. Greiner said in the news release.
In cooperation with the governor’s Stay at Home Order, Dr. Greiner issued a health order on Thursday, April 9 providing guidance to local churches that wish to hold drive-in operations when online, radio or other telecommunications tools are not available.
While the UG strongly discourages gatherings of any size, the order stated that any in-person religious services held should adhere to the following requirements:
• Attendees may arrive for the service no earlier than 15 minutes before the start of the service and must disperse immediately following the service;
• Each vehicle should only have members of the same household in the vehicle
- No vehicle should have members from different households together in a vehicle;
- Attendees must remain in their cars for the entirety of the service. If a person gets out of his or her vehicle, he or she may be asked to leave the service;
- Attendees may roll down the driver’s side (left) window(s) only, and park in such a manner that adjacent vehicles do not have open windows between them;
- Attendees will not enter the church building during the service for any reason, including using restrooms. Celebrants may enter the building as needed to prepare and close the service:
- There will be no distribution or sharing of materials, including written material or communion;
- There will be no passing of objects such as collection plates, baskets, etc.
Following these critical steps will help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and it will help keep yourself, your family, and your community safe, health officials stated.
“This is a time of year where many faith communities and families come together. We know how difficult it is to ask people to not observe these important events with in-person gatherings. That said, individuals can best protect themselves, their families, and the community by staying at home. These efforts will allow us to more quickly emerge from the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Staying home is necessary to protect us all,” Dr. Greiner said.
Large group gatherings have already worsened the spread of COVID-19 in Wyandotte County and elsewhere, according to the Health Department.
In Kansas, there have been 23 confirmed cases, including 11 Wyandotte County residents, linked to the Minister’s Conference March 16-22 at Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ. Additionally, there have been 3 positive cases associated with a gala on March 14 at Rising Star Baptist Church and 3 cases linked to church services on March 8 at Power Realm Church of God in Christ.
“Our family will not be able to join in person with other families of our parish for Holy Week and Easter liturgies and family celebrations. People in Wyandotte County already feel this special loss. Yet we must, and will, keep our common faith while keeping our social distance,” Mayor David Alvey said in the news release.
Churches are creative, but will their event pass the rules test?
One church in eastern Kansas City, Kansas, reportedly plans to set up chairs on the lawn, spaced six feet apart, for services.
Janell Friesen, spokesman for the UG Health Department, said that any gatherings of more than 10 people now, for any reason, are not recommended.
“We would not recommend having something where people are in the same space together, even if that’s an outdoor space,” she said. They would not recommend people getting out of their cars to attend.
The order strongly encourages churches or organizations to hold services remotely, using communications tools, she said.
The order also outlines rules for holding a service in a church parking lot.
Another Kansas City, Kansas, church has announced plans for a “drive-by” service, and Friesen said without knowing the exact details, it sounds similar to the rules of the drive-in services. She said any traffic should be in the parking lot and not blocking traffic on a street.
A group of teachers who recently held a parade of possibly 30 cars past their students’ residences was broken up in Kansas City, Kansas, on a recent weekend.
Friesen said probably the reason is that it was on a public street without a parade permit, and a parade was not listed as an essential activity on the “stay-at-home” orders.
That is why groups may want to check with the police first before they have some similar activity, she said.
The governor’s Stay at Home Order will remain in effect until at least April 19, the Health Department stated. Churches planning parking lot services are encouraged to advise the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department in advance by calling 913-225-4788. The line is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. During other hours, calls should be made to the KCKPD non-emergency number, 913-596-3000.
Residents with questions about the governor’s Stay at Home Order may contact 3-1-1 or visit mywyco.wycokck.org.
To learn more about the County’s COVID-19 response and access FAQs and information, visit wycokck.org/COVID-19.
To see a copy of the new health order, issued April 9, visit https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/LocalHealthOfficersOrdeRegardingReligiousServices04092020.pdf.