At The Christian Institute, we have also been following news about coronavirus. Earlier this week, California public health officials suggested that non-essential gatherings should be canceled or limited to stop community spread of the virus.
For that reason, we have decided to suspend all services and meetings at 1308 Second Street in Santa Monica for the time being. We have not had any reported cases of coronavirus in our building or among our members, but we are canceling all meetings as a precaution. We will reassess the situation in April, so please watch this space for updates.
We are not alone. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has informed Catholics they don't have to go to mass for the next three weeks and that all nonessential meetings have been suspended. Other Los Angeles churches and temples are also canceling or limiting gatherings, and many local colleges, including Pepperdine, UCLA and Santa Monica College, have canceled in-person events and shifted to temporary online teaching.
This is a time to be informed, not afraid, so please check resources like the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for updates on what you should know and how you can stay healthy. Be safe, be aware, and we hope to see you soon.