Seasonal & Holidays
Wisconsin Churches Able To Hold Limited In-Person Easter Services
Wisconsin churches and religious groups may not be able to meet like they used to before the coronavirus, but here's what they can do:
MILWAUKEE, WI — Religious groups can host services if their members stay in cars parked in parking lots, or have small gatherings of 10 or fewer people under Wisconsin's "safer at home" order, Gov. Tony Evers said as the state heads into Easter weekend and the continuation of Passover.
The governor said Thursday that religious organizations and places of worship have asked about the chance to continue offering faith-based services and gatherings while still complying with the governor’s “safer at home” order.
Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm issued a Safer at Home order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, starting at 8 a.m. on Wed., March 25 until 8 a.m. on Fri., April 24 or until a new order is issued.
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The governor’s Safer at Home order is enforceable by any local law enforcement official, including county sheriffs; however, the governor has not asked law enforcement to supervise or take enforcement steps against religious gatherings.
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Under the governor’s order, churches and religious groups are considered essential, yet any gathering must include fewer than 10 people at a time if it occurs in a room or confined space.
As a result, churches and religious groups wanting to hold services while still complying with the governor’s order may do the following, under state law:
- Parking lots with congregants staying in cars, avoiding person-to-person contact.
- Streaming online.
- Having small gatherings - fewer than 10 people in each room - with multiple services.
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