A church in Salem, Oregon, has become the epicenter of the state’s largest coronavirus outbreak. State authorities revealed on Tuesday that 236 people from the church tested positive for the disease.
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The Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Union County held services in April and May despite COVID-19 restrictions that limited gatherings. The church also recently held a wedding and a graduation ceremony, each gathering featuring more than 100 people.
Over the weekend, health and county officials teamed up with the church to hold a clinic which tested 356 people for the virus. Officials reported that 66% tested positive for coronavirus. Currently, five people associated with the church outbreak are hospitalized, Thomas Jeanne, the deputy state health officer, and deputy state epidemiologist confirmed. Thankfully, the county has not had any confirmed fatalities from the virus. Prior to the outbreak affiliated with the church, the county had less than 25 cases of coronavirus during the pandemic.
