Churches can now open at 50 percent capacity

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Places of worship here in the state can now increase the number of people attending services.

As of Wednesday, houses of worship are now allowed to go from 33% to 50% capacity which includes clergy and staff members.

One of the stipulations of increasing the capacity is these churches, synagogues and mosques, must continue practicing social distancing.

A place of worship that cannot maintain social distancing must continue to reduce its capacity until it’s achieved.

Some local religious leaders offered their take on reopening during the pandemic that shut down the world.

“In the long run I think people are going to come back to church. I just think it is going to take time. We expect, again, an influx with the 50% and as we move up into higher capacities, we expect our folks to come back,” said Pastor Joel Hawkins of Crossland Community Church in Bowling Green.

“We are just going to have to continue to watch the numbers. Obviously, we are a hot bed right here in Bowling Green. The best that we can do is to continue to make sure that the place of worship is properly sanitized,” said Pastor John Lee of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Bowling.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Bowling Green is set to reopen in the beginning of July.