250 people is a pretty large church draw. Most will be smaller than that anyway with some people self-isolating.

I thought that sounded small, but the median church size is around 75 people (as of 2009 anyway). https://internetmonk.com/archive/michael-bell-what-is-an-ave... So the majority of churchgoers will be affected, but a minority of churches.

Yeah, it impacts mostly the evangelical megachurches and less typical protestant or catholic churches.

Mitigation should be done at the state level, with the federal government recommending best practices.

now's not really the time for libertarian pontification about the merits of federalism

Nor are you are not legally in the right here to claim that as a solely state power. The CDC has well-established authority and duty to prevent the spread of communicable disease. This has been litigated to SCOTUS numerous times.

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/aboutlawsregulationsquarantin...

Ethics questions are more important during dangerous life-and-death incidents, not less. https://twitter.com/ByMikeBaker/status/1237557583717621760

Unfortunately, history has shown that these are the situations that are used as an excuse for a power grab. So, yes, it's exactly the right time for "libertarian pontification" as you put it.

Because there may not be another time. Rights once given away are nearly impossible to regain, and all that.

Yeah it's like people have forgotten how the Patriot Act was pushed through after 9/11.

And aside from debating the merits of federalism generally, maybe I just don't want this specific administration to be in charge of any life-and-death decisions.