I don’t think there is an epidemiologist who has indicated that kneelers can convey the virus.
Has there actually been any testing? I tend to doubt it, although I suppose in one of the big cities, someone might have done some swabbing of kneelers in a popular church and done the testing–but who paid for it?
Anyway, if there WAS testing, I’m guessing that they found evidence of COVID-19 on the kneelers. It’s amazing how scientists discover microbes on everything. Just this morning, I listened to a news story on TV about
Legionella and how it can be found in faucets, shower heads, drinking fountains, etc.–pretty much anywhere there is water and water vapor. Thankfully most of us don’t get Legionnaire’s disease unless we are immunocompromised.
I think that’s the fear about kneelers–immunocompromised people can catch almost anything from almost everything! It doesn’t take much.
So IMO, instead of getting rid of kneelers in churches, we ought to very strongly discourage anyone who is immunocompromised from attending church–and sadly, that means that anyone who is older should seriously consider staying home from church–just being over 65 compromises our immune system, even though popular media tries to convince us that “we’re as young as we feel.” Nonsense.
I also think that churches ought to be blunt and urge people who are diagnosed with Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2) from attending church at this time in history. This disease seems to be a major risk factor in being seriously ill (or dying) from COVID-19 infection.
And of course, anyone who suffers from a chronic disease that weakens them, and IMO, that includes things like rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, even allergies. STAY HOME!
I personally think that the greatest risk is touching the surfaces of the pews and the DOORKNOBS or door handles with ungloved hands. I do not think that the doorknobs and door handles are being santized between every single person who touches it, right? I pull my sleeve over my hand before opening a door, or I push it open with my elbow or my rump.