CDC Tracks Cluster of Coronavirus Cases in Rural Arkansas to Church, Raising Alarm on Religious Gatherings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked a cluster of coronavirus cases in rural Arkansas back to a church pastor and his wife, indicating that faith-based organizations and events could be sources of Covid-19 transmission, according to a new study published Tuesday.

“This outbreak highlights the potential for widespread transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, both at group gatherings during church events and within the broader community,” the researchers wrote. “Faith-based organizations that are operating or planning to resume in-person operations, including regular services, funerals, or other events, should be aware of the potential for high rates of transmission of SARS-CoV-2.”

The report comes as state officials across the country chart a path to reopening parts of society. Governors have placed varying degrees of restrictions on faith-based organizations from the start of the outbreak. Officials in Louisiana, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Delaware and Michigan had previously carved out certain exemptions for religious activities under the statewide restrictions.

At the Arkansas church, the pastor and his wife were the first two confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the county of about 25,000, the CDC says. Officials from the Arkansas Department of Health began an investigation on March 16 to understand the source of transmission and to identify others who might have been exposed.

The investigation traced the two infections to a three-day children’s event held at the church between March 6 and March 8 and a Bible study group held on March 11. Read More

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Christians, Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox, need to start taking the COVID-19 pandemic with the seriousness that it warrants instead of maintaining that its seriousness is exaggerated, that it is no worse than a bad case of the flu, and that reports of its seriousness are part of a conspiracy to deprive President Trump of a second term in office or to curtail the free exercise of religion in the United States or a a combination of the two. Otherwise, we are going to see more headlines like those of the lead article. While most of the states are reopening, their reopening does not necessarily mean that it is safe for churches to reopen. Politics and economics are driving their reopening. With their reopening we are also seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases and deaths. Churches do not need to become the epicenter of clusters of new COVID cases and deaths in their communities. They should take a cautious approach to reopening and not confuse rashness with faith.