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Cuomo: Houses Of Worship Now Included In Phase Two Reopening

St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Church on Herrick Street, Rensselaer
WAMC photo by Dave Lucas

Religious institutions including churches, mosques, and temples can now open their doors to worshippers in New York regions under Phase Two of the state's reopening guidelines. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo Saturday during his daily briefing that houses of worship could reopen with restrictions. 

Attendance will be limited to 25 percent and social distancing protocols must be in effect. 

New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, a conservative group that advocates for the state's evangelical community, praised the move. 

NYCF Executive Director Rev. Jason J. McGuire issued a statement shortly after Cuomo's announcement that reads in part: 

"While we would prefer a more rapid rollback of the state’s temporary limits on religious gatherings, our organization appreciates that this positive step toward our churches has been taken.”

Lucas Willard is the Executive Producer of WAMC's Northeast Notebook. After joining the station in 2011, Lucas has held several titles at WAMC, including Berkshire Bureau Chief, Southern Adirondack Bureau Chief, and Assistant News Director.