Corona in Free Church: the number of infected continues to increase | NDR.de – Nachrichten – Lower Saxony

Status: 09.25.2020 15:10 – NDR 1 Lower Saxony

After a corona outbreak at a free church in Westertimke near Tarmstedt, the number of people in the Rotenburg district who tested positive for the corona virus has increased further. 43 of the 53 current infections in the district are related to the free church Christian community, the district announced Friday. Compared to Thursday, there were 25 new cases, 21 related to the outbreak in Westertimke. The disease was initially unknown.

Several administrative proceedings were initiated for infringement

The district assumes that the numbers will continue to increase. More than 200 test results are still pending, it said on Friday. The outbreak also affects three day care centers and four schools. 279 people are in quarantine. Development should also have legal consequences. “Various administrative processes for crimes are being initiated,” he said.

Delayed reported infections: Kreis is fine

The health department attributes the increase to various religious services in the community that also included singing. When the first cases occurred, the health department was late informed, according to a district spokesperson. The infection process is now very dynamic, he said. All meetings have been banned. In addition, the district checks to see if a fine procedure is initiated. In addition to the delay in reporting infections, the contact details recorded for the faithful were only transmitted with delay.

Parish rejects the accusations

A community member rejected these allegations when asked about NDR 1 Lower Saxony. They immediately reported to the health department and turned in all the visitor lists. You also had to attend church services. Oriented towards the Crown Ordinance of Lower Saxony and adhered to it as best as possible. The ban on singing was not recognized there, the parishioner said. Robert Gaydacz, vice president of the congregation, told the Evangelical Press Service that the service was sung openly, as before the Corona period. According to him, the community has between 80 and 100 members. By his estimate, around 60 attended the last service before the crown outbreak.

“Not so far with accepting the crown rules”

In recent months, there have been repeated crown outbreaks in church parishes across the country. In June, in Bremerhaven and the neighboring district of Cuxhaven, more than 100 members became one The Protestant Pentecostal church tested positive. According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Affairs, there are more frequent groups of infections in free churches because the members live together in large families and have close contact with each other. “We received feedback that acceptance of the Corona rules is not that far off,” the spokesperson said. However, when approached directly, those affected showed their understanding.