Capacity limits lifted for religious facilities Friday, churches say safety is still a priority

DELAWARE- Maryland Governor Larry Hogan lifted capacity limits for religious facilities Friday.

Community of Joy Church in Salisbury said they will be bringing back people into their facility next week for the first time in a year.

They said lifting capacity limits will not affect them as much because their building isn’t that big, and they still have to be 6 feet apart.

Over in Cambridge, the pastor of Greater Mount Olive Full Gospel Baptist Church said they’re only are allowing a few members to attend, and he said lifting these restrictions is happening too fast.

Both churches said even with capacity limits being lifted safety is important.

“Our objective is to keep our congregation safe, so I say don’t open up too soon and continue to follow the CDC guidelines,” Anthony Dickerson, pastor at Greater Mt. Olive Full Gospel Baptist, said.

“A number of us have been vaccinated, we feel its safe for us to open up in a limited way,” Martin Hutchison, pastor of Community of Joy Church, said.

With capacity limits being lifted, Governor Hogan said masking, social distancing,  and other protocols remain in place.