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Churches adapting to face mask rule changes

North Carolina has loosened coronavirus-related restrictions, and those who are fully vaccinated don't need to wear a mask in most places. But at one Raleigh church, leaders are asking congregants to stay masked up.

Posted Updated

By
Michelle Mackonochie
, WRAL anchor/reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina has loosened coronavirus-related restrictions, and those who are fully vaccinated don't need to wear a mask in most places.

But at one Raleigh church, leaders are asking congregants to stay masked up.

"We're not sure at this point," said Hayes Barton Baptist Church Pastor David Hailey.

Hailey said a COVID-19 task force meeting with his church at Monday night will provide answers.

"I do anticipate there will be changes but I can't say for certain what those changes will be," said Hailey. "One thing I do know is I think we're going to do away with having to take temperatures. That's a small thing but it's something."

He said right now, they're getting mixed suggestions from people. Some, who are fully vaccinated, still aren't ready to come back to church. Others said they've been ready for a while.

"We have people on both sides of that and we want to be sensitive to everyone," said Hailey.

With more and more people getting vaccinated, Hailey said he feels good about that, but he does have a few concerns.

"We don't know who absolutely has been fully vaccinated or not, and we're not prepared to ask people for their vaccination card to get into church," said Hailey.

"The other thing is going to be the question ... to your children and youth, if we don't have to wear masks -- how is it possible for us to convince them that they need to wear a mask?" Hailey added.

Hailey said the church is trying to get to a point where everyone can live with a new policy will be a difficult task but they're prepared to work through it together as a church.

He added that during Monday's COVID-19 task force meeting, if there are any changes to their protocols that they will recommend them to their deacons.

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