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California Governor Gavin Newsom has shirked blame for his controversial decision to keep Hollywood production active while ordering places of worship to shutter amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
During a press conference on Tuesday, he cited a lack of data as the rationale for the decision.
“We didn’t know then and, frankly, we didn’t have the data to back it up with the perspective that we have today,” said Newsom, referring to the early days of the pandemic when restrictions around places of worship were initially imposed.
The governor also noted that the state had taken “extraordinary steps” to support churches and other places of worship since then, allowing them to have modified services outdoors while following strict protocols.
He added that at the time the restrictions were put in place, “We didn’t have the data, necessarily, that would tell us… the connection between indoor worship and transmission rates, and that’s why it’s been incredibly important for us to listen to science, to listen to data.”
Newsom’s decision to keep Hollywood production open while locking down churches during the pandemic has been widely criticized by religious leaders. In response, the governor has noted that filming has not been immune from restrictions either, with sets now following rigorous health and safety protocols in order to remain open.