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Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Medical Officer of Health for Windsor-Essex, issued a statement on Christmas Eve reminding the community that celebrations this holiday season should be done safely.
“While many places of worship have voluntarily closed their doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, some plan to continue to offer in-person services,” Ahmed noted.
“Anyone offering or attending in-person religious or faith services in Windsor-Essex must adhere to requirements under grey lockdown of Ontario’s provincial framework and all local instructions and guidance to ensure our community stays healthy and safe.”
Ahmed added that fines for violators of the Reopening Ontario Act can range from $750 to $100,000.
While religious gatherings of 10 or less people are permitted under the Act, Ahmed said he is not recommending in-person gatherings “of any kind, due to the high risk of disease transmission.”
Ahmed advised all faith leaders to opt for virtual services only.
If in-person services are to be held, Ahmed emphasized such measures as COVID-19 screening of all participants, physical distancing at all times, and mandatory mask-wearing.
Meanwhile, Rock posted on his public Facebook page on Saturday that his resolve is “undiminished.”
“I am not discouraged, and I am unafraid,” he wrote. “Many have witnessed the bigotry, hatred and intellectual nonsense thrown at us over the past 24 hours. This assures that we are in a spiritual battle and must press on.”
Rock described his church as “a spiritual hospital to a broken world,” and declared that its “divine obligations” will not be surrendered “under any threat.”
dchen@postmedia.com
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