Image from Canadian Press

By Connor Gunn

AHS closes Edmonton church defying COVID restrictions

Apr 7, 2021 | 9:50 AM

EDMONTON, AB– After multiple acts in relation to defying COVID restrictions for an Edmonton church, Alberta Health Services has closed the GraceLife Church.

AHS says they’ve “physically closed GraceLife Church (GLC) and has prevented access to the building until GLC can demonstrate the ability to comply with Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s (CMOH) restrictions.”

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The closure comes after several months of AHS attempting to have GLC comply with restrictions.

AHS says previously to closing the church they have done the following:

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• An order issued by AHS on December 17^th, 2020, requiring GLC to comply with CMOH restrictions.
• A Court of Queen’s Bench Order obtained on January 21^st, 2021, requiring GLC to comply with the previous order.
• A Closure Order issued on January 29^th, 2021, requiring closure until compliance with the restrictions was attained.
• On March 27, 2021, AHS sent a letter to Pastor Coates providing him with information on the continued spread of COVID-19. Last week, AHS invited Pastor Coates to meet virtually to discuss the risks presented by COVID-19, however, the church has not provided any dates to meet.

“GLC has decided not to follow these mandatory restrictions, nor have they attempted to work with AHS to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission,” the release reads.

AHS says from July 10, 2020, to April 6, 2021, they have received 105 complaints from the public about GLC.

The church will be closed immediately and AHS has not provided when they will be opening it again.

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