MSP urging compliance of faith community during State of Emergency

PIKESVILLE, Md. – With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Maryland State Park are urging the faith community to be informed and to voluntarily comply with the order as it applies to holding services.

The Governor’s Executive Order prohibits groups of more than 10 people from assembling, and those groups of 10 or less must maintain social distance of at least six feet between individuals. Churches, synagogues, and mosques have been included in the list of “non-essential businesses” that are required to close normal operations, however some minimal operations at a religious facility can continue under the following guidelines:

• Drive-In Religious Services: churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other similar religious facilities of any faith may hold “drive-in” services, where participants gather in their vehicles near the facility and participate in the service together by remote means. Participants may leave their homes to travel by vehicle to and from the religious facility, and must remain in their vehicle at all times. In addition, no vehicle may contain more than 10 people, and participants may not physically interact with clergy, staff, or participants in other vehicles.
• Limited In-Person Services: clergy may conduct limited in-person services at their religious facilities, and participants may leave their homes to travel to and from the services. No more than 10 people including clergy, staff, or participants can be inside the facility at one time, ad participants may not interact physically with clergy, staff, or other participants. All persons must be at least six feet apartment from one another at all times, except for participants that are part of the same household. There must also be a four hour gap between the end of one in-person service and the beginning of the next in-person service, and the facility should be cleaned between services.
• Minimal Operations at Religious Facilities: Clergy and other staff of religious facilities are permitting to continue conducting minimal operations, provided they comply with all applicable guidance from the CDC and MDH regarding social distancing.

Those found in violation of the Governor’s Executive Order may be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor offense that could result in up to one year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine, or both. Those organizing/leading events and those attending in violation of the order could each be charged.