Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had issued a state-wide stay-at-home order, but its list of “essential” businesses that are exempt from the order has noticeably included “religious services conducted in churches, synagogues and houses of worship.” This comes out just days after megachurch pastor and vocal Trump-supported Rodney Howard-Browne was arrested for willfully violating social distancing orders and encouraging his congregation to do the same.

Just days after a Tampa pastor was arrested for defying local restrictions, Florida Gov. DeSantis' latest executive order, calling for a statewide stay-at-home order, includes church services as an "essential service" https://t.co/0IoSGHrVNE pic.twitter.com/f92xJP5PtS — Colin Wolf (@WolfColin) April 1, 2020

This latest executive order from DeSantis specifically supersedes “any conflicting official action or order issued by local officials in response to COVID-19,” which presumably means that Howard-Browne will be released if he hasn’t already, and any charges against him dropped.

This news is disappointing, to say the least, as many other states have included religious gatherings in their orders against social gatherings due to the fact that they tend to be large, with people sitting close together and often touching each other, and can be easily done with video calling instead.

Howard-Browne and other religious leaders will still have to limit their gatherings to 10 people or less and make sure the people who do show up remain at least six feet apart. However, the local county sheriff issued a warrant for the pastor’s arrest specifically after Howard-Browne was seen on video already violating these guidelines, preaching to his large megachurch crowds and encouraging them to shake hands to show they aren’t “afraid” of the coronavirus.

“His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk, and thousands of residents who may interact with him this week, in danger,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister at a press conference announcing the warrant.

People are not convinced that Howard-Browne will have learned his lesson after being arrested, especially if the actual consequences for his behavior will be overridden by DeSantis’ order.

This is ridiculous. Not really a stay at home order at all if you can still go to church and go out and have fun (aka pursue “recreational activities”). Just lip service. Like maybe go out a little less than you normally do so people will stop criticizing my governing. — Jen Ring (@jenringwrites) April 1, 2020

Churches in Florida were just deemed essential services:https://t.co/4wPmMHxAoX https://t.co/bHOwalleuw — jordan (@JordanUhl) April 1, 2020

Can they do the part in the bible were Jesus sneezes on his neighbour and causes a global pandemic — splash (@newfromdanone) April 1, 2020

Jesus is an accelerationist — 4PM Curve Flattener (@PotionKnights) April 1, 2020

A huge church like that definitely has video and radio stations that air their services so there’s no reason why the church staff can’t figure out how to not hold service in person. Churches in my small town are doing it and are succeeding. No excuses, just idiocy. — elise (@bisexualcrises) April 1, 2020