An Alabama pastor says more than 40 people have been infected with the coronavirus after attending a multi-day revival event at his Baptist church.
STRAWBERRY, Ala. – More than 40 people became infected with the coronavirus after attending a multi-day revival event at a Baptist church in northern Alabama, according to the congregation’s pastor.
“The whole church has it, almost,” Al.com said, quoting Pastor Daryl Ross of Warrior Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Marshall County.
The pastor says parishioners, including himself, tested positive after the congregation held a series of religious services with a guest pastor over the course of several days last week.
Ross said services closed on Friday after learning that one of the members in attendance had tested positive for the virus. The member had no symptoms, but was tested when several of his coworkers received positive tests, according to the pastor.
Over the weekend, dozens more became ill, Ross said, adding: “I have sick church members everywhere.”
“We knew what we were getting into,” he said. “We knew the possibilities.”
Ross said only the cases of two members were serious, and as of Sunday, no one had been hospitalized, although many had reported that they had fever, headaches and respiratory problems.
He said some social distancing measures were applied during the services, which were carried out several times a day, and most members skipped the events out of concern about the virus. Those who attended sat with their own families. No masks were required, the newspaper reported.
“We let everyone do what they felt. … If you were comfortable shaking hands, you would shake hands. If you didn’t, you didn’t, “said the pastor.
The church is located in a small community called Strawberry, about 60 miles (97 km) northeast of Birmingham.
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