Los Angeles County health officials cleared John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church of causing a coronavirus outbreak this summer. Complaints surfaced when the church opened in-person worship services in July despite a county public health order.
“We are glad to announce that we received a notice from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Thursday, November 12, saying that we have been cleared of COVID-19 outbreak,” the church website shared.
“After a thorough investigation, Public Health officials have decided to rescind all outbreak-related requirements and restrictions on Grace Community Church.”
In September, an L.A. County Superior Court judge ordered the megachurch needed to stop holding indoor worship services, The Los Angeles Times reported. The judge also mandated that congregants must wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing practices when worshiping outdoors.
MacArthur was threatened with fines and jail time and said he’s not “worried about threats of jail for holding church services: “I’m open for a jail ministry … bring it on. They don’t want us to meet, that’s obvious,” he told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham. “They just want to shut us down. But we’re here to bring honor to the Lord.”