As It Battles Deadly COVID-19 Epidemic, L.A. County Files Suit to Enforce Health Officer Orders Against Indoor Church Services
Los Angeles County has filed a lawsuit seeking full compliance by Grace Community Church to follow public health orders in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep church members and all Los Angeles County residents safe and healthy.
The County took this action reluctantly, after working with the church for several weeks in hopes of gaining voluntary compliance with the Health Officer Orders, which allow for religious services to be held outdoors in order to slow the spread of a deadly and highly contagious virus.
A copy of the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, can be found here.
While not commenting on the specifics of the lawsuit–or on a lawsuit filed by the church against California’s governor and other elected and public health officials–the Department of Public Health released the following statement underscoring the urgent necessity of compliance by all businesses and institutions, including faith-based organizations, as the County works to slow the spread of the deadly virus that has claimed the lives of more than 5,100 County residents:
