A new Virginia Department of Health webpage that allows citizens to report churches and businesses in violation of the governor’s coronavirus orders has sparked pushback from lawmakers, who say it’s a form of “police snitch” government overreach that could be abused.
The portal on the Department of Health website allows citizens to file a complaint if they “have observed violations of Executive [Order] 63 or Executive Order 65.”
It asks the public to list the establishment’s name and address, along with the date of the alleged violation. A toggle allows the complainant to list the type of establishment, such as “religious service,” “restaurant,” “grocery/convenience store” or “indoor gun range.”
The complainant also is asked to list the type of complaint: people “were not wearing cloth face coverings”; “the number of people present in this establishment was above the current required capacity” or “people in this establishment were not following social distancing guidelines.”
Executive Order 65, issued by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, limits church capacity to 50 percent and requires individuals to be seated six feet apart. It also prohibits attendees from passing items to non-family members. Executive Order 63 requires the wearing of masks in public facilities.
Virginia state Sen. Mark D. Obenshain, on his
… Read More
Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.