Woodfin hopes churches will remain closed right now to protect seniors - 'Very dangerous'

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin says he hopes churches in his city remain closed for the near future to protect against the transmission of the coronavirus.

“Having physical church at the actual church grounds is very dangerous right now,” warned Woodfin during a recent interview with CNN.

During the interview Woodfin brought up that “the largest, deadliest event from the coronavirus has been from a church event” as evidence that houses of worship should remain closed.

Woodfin appeared to be referencing a report from the Montgomery Advertiser about an outbreak in Chambers County linked to a church service.

The CNN interview was in the context of President Trump’s declaration last week that houses of worship were essential and must be allowed to open.

In Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey reopened churches a week before Trump’s declaration. Any house of worship in the Yellowhammer State still shuttered has been closed voluntarily by a leader of that congregation.

Woodfin was asked by CNN host Wolf Blitzer if President Trump’s declaration would make much difference among faith leaders in Birmingham.

“Wolf, I’m going to hope not,” replied Woodfin, saying he’d had frequent conversations with Birmingham area faith leaders for the life of the pandemic and was glad for their responsible behavior.

“Outside of nursing homes, churches have the second largest gathering of seniors in our community,” noted Woodfin as support for continued closure.

The Birmingham mayor’s comments are in line with Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson’s recent remarks about the danger of reopening church sanctuaries

“I think the local faith leaders here in the city of Birmingham will remain closed… they’re listening to our local health experts,” added Woodfin during the interview.

Most faith leaders in Alabama have chosen to keep their facilities closed during the past two Sundays in which opening has been allowed, with several targeting a June 1 reopening for their buildings.

Those that have opened appear to have done so with extreme precautions, such as the Catholic Archidiocese of Mobile which has outlined numerous health and safety standards that must be followed in order to conduct an in-person mass.

The government doesn't have the luxury to wash its hands of these problems and leave reopening up to the community. We have a critical role to play in protecting the people we serve. Thanks to @CNNSitRoom and @wolfblitzer for inviting me to discuss this key issue. pic.twitter.com/K8fnuIQsSJ

— Randall Woodfin (@randallwoodfin) May 22, 2020