190 pastors demand Nevada churches be allowed in-person services

Pastors and religious leaders from around Nevada signed the letter calling Gov.

Steve Sisolak's emergency orders excessive.

Sean DeLancey reports.

WORSHIP TOGETHER AGAIN - - ASANOTHER SUNDAY PASSES WITHEMPTY CHURCHES - - BECAUSE OFTHE CORONAVIRUS SHUTDOWN.13 ACTION NEWS REPORTER SEANDELANCEY IS LIVE NEAR THE STRIP- - WITH THOSE PASTORS' DEMANDSAND THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE.SEAN?NINA - THIS IS THE FIRST SUNDAYSINCE THAT LETTER WENT OUT ANDTHERE ARE STILL NO INDOORSERVICES ALLOWED IN NEVADA.THAT ORDER - DESIGNED TO KEEPYOU AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE DURINGTHIS PANDEMIC.THE LETTER SIGNED BY 190RELIGIOUS LEADERS ACROSS THESTATE - - CALLSGOVERNOR STEVE SISOLAK'S ORDERLIMITING GATHERINGS IN CHURCHESTO TEN PEOPLE - TOORESTRICTIVE.THE PASTORS DEMAND SISOLAK LIFTTHE ORDER - IMMEDIATELY.IT SAYS EVERY SIGNATOR HASAGREED TO DEVELOP AND FOLLOWSAFETY PROTOCOLS - - AND ARGUESTHAT IF RESTAURANTS - BARS THATSERVE FOOD - AND MARIJUANADISPENSARIES CAN OPEN - - THENCHURCHES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TOAS WELL.THESE PASTORS SAY RELIGEOUSFREEDOM - - IS AS ESSENTIAL ASANY OTHER OPERATING BUSINESS.DURING FRIDAY'S PRESSCONFERENCE - - SISOLAK SAID HEHADN'T PERSONALLY RECEIVED THELETTER - - BUT KNEW IT EXISTED.HE SAYS IT'S JUST NOT TIME YET,GOV.STEVE SISOLAK/(D) NEVADA "NOONE WANTS CHURCHES TO OPEN MORETHAN ME, AND MY MOTHER,PROBABLY, MORE THAN ME.I MEAN, BECAUSE SHE DOESN'TDIFFICULT TO SOCIAL DISTANCE INA HOUSE OF WORSHIP."SISOLAK SAYS CHURCH MEMBERS AREOFTEN PEOPLE MOST VULNERABLE TOTHE CORONAVIRUS - - LIKE THEELDERLY.EARLY THIS MONTH HE DID LIFTSOME OF THE MORE STRINGENTSHUT-DOWN MEASURES - - LIKEALLOWING DRIVE-UP SERVICES INPARKING LOTS.ON FRIDAY - - HE SUGGESTEDCONGREGATIONS COULD WORSHIPOUTDOORS - - AND SAID HE ISWORKING WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERSTO FIND THE RIGHT TIME - TOALLOW INDOOR WORSHIP AGAIN.SISOLAK SAYS INDOOR WORSHIP - -IS NOT IN THE CARDS FOR PHASEONE - - AND THE DATA WILLDECIDE HIS NEXT MOVES.SEAN DELANCEY - - 13 ACTIONNEWS.THIS COMES AS A NEW C-D-C STUDYSHOWS JUST HOW QUICKLY THECORONAVIRUS CAN SPREAD INSIDECHURCHES.ONE SYMPTOMATIC PERSON WAS ABLETO SPREAD THE CORONAVIRUS TO 32PEOPLE DURING A TWO AND A HALFHOUR CHOIR PRACTICE INWASHINGTON STATE.THE C-D-C SAYS THERE WAS ALSO APOSSIBLE SECONDARY SPREAD TO 20OTHER PEOPLE.EXPERTS SAY THE VIRUS SPREADQUICKLY FROM PERSON TO PERSONBECAUSE THEYWERE SO CLOSE TOGETHER AND THEYWERE SINGING.OVERALL 87-PERCENT OF THE GROUPCAUGHT COVID-19.TESLA ISN'T COMING TO NEVADA