[82 Card]

the simplest way out of the religion/first amendment/church/political/essential services knot might be to apply appropriate infection control requirements to any indoor "gathering"; e.g., can't have people be within 6 feet of each other except momentarily; no person can stay more than 60 minutes or whatever. so that it applies uniformly, without making distinctions for religion.

That is how the Bay Area orders are written. Our local order says:

All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited, except for the limited purposes expressly permitted in this Order. Nothing in this Order prohibits members of a single household or living unit from engaging in Essential Travel, Essential Activities, Outdoor Activities, or Additional Activities together.

The churches are insisting on special treatment. They want their assembly to be declared "essential" in preference to other assembly.

[82 Card]

the simplest way out of the religion/first amendment/church/political/essential services knot might be to apply appropriate infection control requirements to any indoor "gathering"; e.g., can't have people be within 6 feet of each other except momentarily; no person can stay more than 60 minutes or whatever. so that it applies uniformly, without making distinctions for religion.

That is how the Bay Area orders are written. Our local order says:

All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited, except for the limited purposes expressly permitted in this Order. Nothing in this Order prohibits members of a single household or living unit from engaging in Essential Travel, Essential Activities, Outdoor Activities, or Additional Activities together.

The churches are insisting on special treatment. They want their assembly to be declared "essential" in preference to other assembly.