Vol. VIII #4 | March 1 - 14

• Public Health order: All County events with 250+ cancelled until May 1st -- includes church services
• Riverside County Public Health orders the closure of all schools, public and private
• Local COVID-19 steps: The Grove, Woodcrest CS ... 
• Trump addresses nation -- twice (transcripts)
• COVID-19: Advice for workplace, traveling, masks
• U.S. COVID-19 epicenter:13 die in Seattle-area hospitals; 55 test positive for virus
• Wuhan Central Hospital: A fourth doctor dies
• Coronavirus: A proactive plan for churches
• CDC: Coronavirus not a U.S, epidemic -- yet
• 2017 U.S. flu-related deaths: 80,000
• CDC: 2019 flu A & B U.S. cases: 34 million; deaths: 20,000
• CDC: 2019 Coronavirus U.S. cases: 164; deaths: 11
• 'I Still Believe' in theaters March 13 (trailer)
• Justice for 9/11 Heroes: LIVE, March 6,  2-5 p.m.
• Coronavirus hits Bethlehem; 4 tourists infected
• The abortion fight is just getting started
• Born Alive: How Democrats justify infanticide
• Christian Voter Guide
• Howard Jarvis: 'No' on THIS Prop. 13
• Riverside, Calif. Voter Guide, voter status
• Israel's UN Ambassador: Sanders is 'ignorant fool'
• Chinese pastor, wife recover from COVID-19
• 9th Circuit upholds Trump's 'Protect Life Rule'
• Ark Encounter: Best Religious Museum award

The Bible says: Psalm 33:12 | Matthew 12:36

Photo Essay: Marijuana Alley. The I-215 along the City of Perris is saturated with Lamar-owned billboards advertising local cannabis shops (L). Is Lamar in compliance with California cannibis advertising regulations --  and is there a link to violent crime and pot shops? 

Public Health order: All County events with 250+ cancelled until May 1st -- includes church services

Riverside, Calif. InterChurch News, March 14, 2020

All large gathering events in Riverside County -- including church services -- with 250 or more persons expected in attendance, are cancelled effective Thursday, March 12 through April 30 by order of the Riverside County Public Health Department.

'Yes, the large gathering does apply to religious services,' stated Brooke Federico, public information officer for the Riverside Public Health Department, in an email to InterChurch News.

And the order is not a suggestion: 'Violation of or failure to comply with this Order is a crime punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.'

The order is intended 'to reduce the likelihood of exposure to COVID-19, thereby slowing the spread of COVID-19 in communities worldwide,' Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Public Health Officer of the County of Riverside stated.

'Many of the events in the County, both large and small,' his order states, 'attract attendees from many regions and countries, including several disproportionately afflicted by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.'

The 249 person limit is set, Dr. Kaiser states, because 'as the population of an event increases, the difficulty and magnitude of tracing individuals who may have been exposed to a case present at that event rises exponentially.' 

Several Riverside County churches with congregations of 250+ parishioners have since uploaded videos on church websites with contingency plans to direct worshippers to go online for this weekend's services -- including Centerpoint Church, The Grove, Harvest Christian Fellowship, Magnolia Church and Rancho Community Church. 

'I've spoken to pastors over the last few days,' stated Federico, 'who've indicated they plan to add additonal services to keep attendance below 250 at any one service.' 

'Another church indicated they will also live-stream their service on social media,' she stated. 

Federico recommends churches 'implement social distancing between seats, place hand sanitizer or hand washing stations at entrances and exits, and clean hard surfaces between services.'

The crowd restriction order is implemented as Jews, Christians and Muslims prepare to celebrate Passover, Easter and Ramadan respectively in April -- drawing some of their largest audiences and activities of the year.  

-W, Keith Sloane

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