Some churches across Long Island are preparing for a partial reopening next Sunday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that churches will be allowed to have 25% capacity of their building.

Pastor Sedgwick V. Easley of Union Baptist Church in Hempstead says they have been holding virtual services since the lockdown. He says before the shutdown, they had two services on Sunday, to accommodate the hundreds of people who wanted to be in church.

He says it's hard to have just 25% capacity because when the church is full, they have more than 800 people and two services. Easley says at least three people from the church have died of COVID-19.

He says they have to figure out a way to practice social distancing, clean the building before and after people are at the church and take as many measures as they can to keep everybody safe.

Easley says they will continue to hold virtual services so as many people who would like to join can.

He says he may open up the doors of the church when 75% capacity is allowed.