- According to CNN, more than 100 people sang without masks in front of Vice President Mike Pence and a large audience at a megachurch in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday.
- Pence wore a mask in the audience, but took it off for her direction. Later she urged wearing masks, good hygiene and social distancing, CNN reported.
- The CDC has raised its warning against singing in choirs, but is still considered a possible “super spreader” activity.
- Texas has seen a massive increase in coronavirus cases, with a recent average of at least 5,000 new cases reported per day, according to the BBC.
- Visit the Business Insider home page for more stories.
A choir of more than 100 people performed for Vice President Mike Pence without masks on Sunday at a megachurch in Dallas, Texas, CNN reported.
Images from the “Celebrate Freedom” event at First Baptist Church, where Pence also delivered a speech, showed that the choir was about two feet away as they played various songs at a distance from the audience.
Pence himself was seen wearing a mask while disembarking his flight, to meet with Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, as well as at the church audience, CNN reported. However, he removed it to give his speech, the outlet reported.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously warned that group singing performances, such as a choir recital, could be a “superdiffusion event,” meaning they could easily transmit the virus.
Singing and projecting your voice could send drops beyond the recommended six feet of social distance, as Business Insider previously reported.
The CDC removed its anti-singing guide in church choirs on May 22 despite health warnings.
Vice President Mike Pence wore a mask during the performance.
CNN
The first Baptist Church service took place as Texas struggles to contain a renewed outbreak of the coronavirus.
Governor Abbott said the state was seeing a “rapid and very dangerous turnaround” in the pandemic, with an average of 5,000 new cases reported each day, the BBC reported. Hospitals are rushing to expand the capacity of their intensive care unit to cope with the increase.
The state has reported nearly 150,000 cases to date, and almost 2,400 deaths, according to The Guardian.
It is one of several states that have seen large increases in the virus since the blocking restrictions were lifted.
Pence himself urged wearing masks “where indicated” in a later direction with Abbott, CNN reported.
“We know from experience that the spread of the coronavirus will decrease,” he said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Lynda M. Gonzalez-Pool / Getty Images
The increase in cases occurs when businesses across the state begin to reopen.
Pence said he does not believe the reopens are causing the growth in new cases, CNN reported. However, health experts have attributed the new cases to the relaxation of blocking restrictions.
Abbott first announced plans to lift restrictions for Texas businesses on April 11, and by the end of May, many businesses and aspects of social life had returned to the entire state.
Currently, Dallas businesses can reopen with 50% occupancy, and face covers are required in all public places where social distancing is not possible. It is unclear whether this applies to churches, where there is also no difficult occupancy limit.
Dr. Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of the church and contributor to Fox News, wrote on Facebook on Sunday: “Thank you, Vice President Mike Pence, for a powerful and inspiring message at First Baptist Dallas today that all Americans need to hear! Millions We Christians are grateful for you and for our tremendous President Donald J. Trump. “
First Baptist Church did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
