Can an independent living facility tell you that you can't go to church during covid 19? A friend is upset about being told she can't go.

It is not "against her rights" at all. The residents, and your friend, have a right to not get sick and die because one person insisted she go to church. I'd think the same policy is in place across the country. It doesn't matter where she wants to go on Sundays, be it church or the mall or a restaurant. Anywhere where numerous people are in one place is too risky right now. Your friend may be willing to take that chance, but she can't risk other peoples' lives.

If they did let someone go to church and they transmit the virus, and your friend dies from it... would you be okay with that? Would other families be okay with that? Doubt it.

There's always religious services broadcast on TV Sunday mornings. Last I checked, God is omnipotent. You can pray anywhere, anytime. You can read your Bible whenever you want. You could even chat on the phone with a minister if need be.

As a person of faith myself, it irks me when Christians claim they're being denied rights or persecuted in America. Unless you're being used as a tasty snack for lions, you are not being persecuted.

Of course she cannot go to her church. She could pick up covid, which now sees 1,000 deaths in the last 24 hours alone, and which is peaking again, from congregating in her church. No facility in their right minds would let her return then to a group of at risk seniors. Trust me, any loving God will forgive her for not carrying Covid-19 into the midst of a group of elders. If the facility did anything else I would hold them irresponsible in an almost criminal way.
Surely there are Seniors there who are believers, who can congregate together and celebrate the love of their God.

Our church has social distancing implemented for seating, masks required while you are not seated and it has worked well.

However, we have live streaming for the ones that want to stay out of public places.

I think that your friend needs to decide if she really wants to move right now and what is more important to her.

I believe that following the guidelines keeps us safe and being socially isolated is killing our seniors, what's worse, slow lonely death or covid which has a death rate of half a percent according to new numbers released by WHO and CDC.

When we move into a facility they have rules that you agree to, so you can not really complain if you don't agree and move in anyway.

Our (unbiased) national news today says that 500,000 new Covid cases were reported in the USA last week. Illinois, with just under half the population of Australia, reported 30,000 new cases last week. That’s more cases than Australia has had altogether since January. I doubt if people who catch it in Church are guaranteed automatic entry to heaven. No vaccine is ready yet, and any site that says so is deeply suspect. A few vaccines are being trialed on very brave volunteers, Deep sorrow for America and for everyone in the world facing such difficult times.

Does her church have an online service? Suggest she view the service online.

From what I have read there is no vaccine as of yet. Our Governor, NJ, has said it will be voluntary but he hopes 70% of the population gets the vaccine. It cannot be given to those who don't want it. Me, I think all the politicians should get it first then we will see if there are any side effects. 😊

The death total for the 1918-1920 pandemic was 25k per month.... oh wait, the U.S. is at the amount right now with close to 1k deaths per day !!! My gosh, didn't anyone learn anything from that pandemic of 100 years ago?

I am still amazed at how many people are not taking this pandemic seriously. Do they believe that the death counts are fake news or what? I saw interviews on TV where some people still believe the virus is a hoax.

What is happening this year with the virus is running parallel as to what happened with the pandemic of 1918. Some people didn't want to wear masks [back then the masks were gauze].... some people didn't want to distant themselves from others.... and there were some Mayors of big cities that still held parades which crammed in thousands of people, which spiked the virus. Sounds like history is repeating itself.... [sigh]

https://www.history.com/news/1918-spanish-flu-mask-wearing-resistance

Yes, they can tell her that, because the safety of everyone at the facility is their responsibility. If she wants to self-quarantine all the time and never mingle with others where she lives, including all meals and activities, maybe they'd OK it, but in the end it's their house, their rules.

She has the right to attend services in person if she chooses to however the facility also has the right and obligation to set rules that proactively protect their residents, hence restricted in person visitations and outings. She does not have the right to potentially infect other people or cause harm to others. This virus can be and has been deadly for many. She can attend mass by watching it on TV, that's what dh and I have been doing. If she is religious she will know that the building is not the church, the people are. God does not want his people to put themselves or others in harm's way, she can pray and worship from the facility. He doesn't judge if you went into a building for mass, he listens to prayers regardless of where you are. I know that these are hard times for many people, lack of socialization, extra precautions when you do need to get out to the store or appointment. If it's the after service socializing she misses there are always phone conversations and texting. Have her check her church's website, some are doing virtual bible studies and group meetings. Something like this may help her feel involved but still keep her and others safe. Please stress to her that she really doesn't want to contract this virus nor will she want to be the one to spread it. It affects different people in different ways, we have lost a good friend, another may need to be on oxygen for the rest of his life, going from an active, fit person who now lives his life hooked up to an O2 hose, diminishing his and his wife's quality of life. No more ski trips, running marathons, or snorkeling on vacation. Can not perform his job as an industrial electrician any longer either. Is going into a building really worth the risk to her and others?

Attorneys are going to have a heyday with this for years to come. Infringement of civil rights, spreading due to noncompliance, employers not requiring any protections or requiring protections, knowingly spreading when already diagnosed, etc, etc, etc.....

I would not set foot in a church, especially here in rural, rogue America.