últimas notícias

It was the same in Bible study nearby, where attendance had dropped from the week before, a couple lamented as they left the gathering, carrying masks in their pockets instead of wearing them. Thousands of church members have been choosing to attend online, a church official said.

With case counts soaring, hospital intensive-care units filling up and a “red alert” declared for Houston last week, only about one-fifth of the usual crowd could be found at Second Baptist on Sunday.

Those who did attend mostly were not wearing masks, and did not seem ill at ease.

The church recommends masks but does not require them, and it has felt compelled to ask attendees to respect the choice of those who do choose to wear them.

“I’m not sick, we’re not sick,” said Christina Barlow, 43, whose family of 15 children is well known in the congregation. “It’s just a matter of personal choice.”

Attendees old and young, those with children and those without, gathered in family circles or with friends, aware of the anxious swirl of news about the city, but not overly concerned about taking part in a large indoor gathering of the sort that remains banned in many states.

“If you’re uncomfortable, stay home,” said Jonathan Bonck, 33, who attended with his wife. Neither wore masks. “People are smart, they stay apart,” he added. Their 2-year-old spent the service in the church’s child care center with a handful of other young children.

The church took pains to maintain social distancing. Every other row of seats was roped off; ushers enforced spacing between families; there were floor markings by the elevators and bathrooms, and at the church’s well-staffed coffee shop, indicating six-foot spacing. Most of the staff wore masks.