The court order noted that justices are not public health experts and as such “should respect the judgement of those with special expertise”.
But it ruled that “even in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten.
“The restrictions at issue here, by effectively barring many from attending religious services, strike at the very heart of the First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty.”
The late-night ruling came just before the Thanksgiving holiday, which has prompted fears that those who choose to travel could spread the virus.
The virus is surging across the US, with Johns Hopkins University reporting a total of 12.7 million cases nationwide.
