LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. — While places of worship in Ohio and Kentucky are still closed, churches in Indiana are allowed to reopen and operate at full capacity today, according to the governor.
Governor Eric Holcomb said opening churches and other places of worship is a good place to start reopening the state because those facilities are the "most responsible."
However, not all churches in Indiana are going back to in-person services immediately, and the government even suggests continuing remote services if possible.
"We didn't shut our doors to the church just because the government said we should; we shut our doors to the church because it was the right thing to do for the health of our congregation and for the health of our community," said Pastor Alex Damico of First Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg/Greendale. "We understand that we do not want to be impartial to the spreading of some virus unintentionally."
If churches do resume in-person services immediately, the Indiana government suggests making some changes, such as cleaning before and after each service, keeping congregates at least 6 feet apart during the service and asking those who are 65 years old or older or have health conditions to stay at home and watch the service online for their own safety and health.
Indiana churches are allowed to return to in-person worship today - there is no limit on capacity. But will congregations resume services? And how does this impact Ohio & Kentucky? We're live with responses from area churches. @WCPO pic.twitter.com/j0c7EIop8L
— Ally Kraemer (@AllyKraemer) May 8, 2020
