OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter today released the following statement after numerous inquiries on whether or not the state or local governments have the authority to cancel church services tomorrow amid COVID-19 fears.
“Consistent with state and federal legal safeguards, church services across the state can go on as normal tomorrow unless they are postponed or rescheduled by the church itself,” Attorney General Hunter said. “If the situation were to ever become so dire that church services needed to be cancelled by the government, all other similarly sized and situated gatherings would also need to be cancelled as well.
“However, Oklahomans planning to attend Sunday services tomorrow should use good judgment and common sense. If they feel ill or under the weather or they have credible belief that they may have been in contact with a person who has contracted COVID-19, they should stay home. If individuals need more tips or advice on how to practice proper social distancing or how they can protect themselves, listen to medical experts and utilize the resources from the Center for Disease Control as well as Oklahoma state and local government resources through the Oklahoma State Department of Health. My office will continue working with federal, state and local governments to continue providing guidance assistance on addressing Coronavirus issues as they evolve.”