Springfield-Greene County Health Director Clay Goddard took to social media to comment on viral photos that showed very few people wearing masks and standing close together at James River Church services over the past weekend.
I was shocked and deeply saddened to see photos from the James River event over the weekend. I can’t see those photos without also thinking of the images we’ve all seen of the impossible circumstances our hospitals are battling every day. 1/4
— Director SGCHD (@directorSGCHD) December 7, 2020
Goddard says in one tweet in the thread, “Hosting a giant event without distancing or masking is irresponsible and insulting to the people on the front lines of this crisis, most especially the health care workers who are overwhelmed.”
The Twitter account for the SGC-HD tweeted as well.
Organizations can and are encouraged to implement their own policies that will best keep staff and visitors protected. We sincerely hope this will not become a super spreader-type event, but will be monitoring our data closely to evaluate any positive cases that may result. 3/3
— S-GC Health Dept. (@SGCHD) December 7, 2020
James River Church issued a statement to KYTV-KSPR saying, “We take seriously the safety and health of those who attend our services. We have strongly encouraged masking and social distancing each and every weekend during this challenging season. For the Christmas services, additional services were added to further provide for social distancing. Going forward, we are committed to doing a better job of encouraging and maintaining the procedures necessary to keep people safe and secure.
Throughout the pandemic, in addition to encouraging masking and social distancing, we have done the following at each service to keep people safe:
1. Take temperatures at the door
2. Fog-sanitize our auditoriums
3. Multiple times per day sanitize the children’s areas and the common areas
4. Provide masks to everyone who attends Our heart at James River Church has always been to minister to people in our community.
During this pandemic we have helped thousands of people with food, financial assistance, counsel, and spiritual encouragement. Most of all we want people to know that God loves and cares for them.”
