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Multiple COVID-19 cases linked to church's Easter service

Five confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far linked to Calvary Baptist Church Easter service, which drew online criticism.
COVID-19 5

EMO, Ont. – An Easter church service in Emo, Ontario has been linked to at least five cases of COVID-19, health authorities have confirmed.

Emo's Cavalry Baptist Church held an outdoor Easter service April 4.

Images of the service posted to Facebook by church leaders garnered online criticism for an apparent lack of physical distancing and masks.

The Northwestern Health Unit said Monday that five confirmed cases have so far been connected to the church's Easter service.

Provincial regulations currently allow religious services to occur outdoors without attendance limits, provided there is enough room for attendees to maintain two metres of physical distance from others. There is no requirement for masks to be worn outdoors.

The images of the Easter service have now been scrubbed from social media by the church. Its pastor, Chris Vieira, said in a statement the service was held in accordance with provincial rules for religious gatherings, adding the institution had no intent to protest or ignore the rules.

“For Easter Sunday our church made the switch to an outdoor service to be in accordance with the latest provincial rules for religious gatherings,” he said. “We also provided a pre-recorded online sermon for anyone vulnerable or who was not comfortable attending any kind of in person service.” 

A message posted to Facebook by the church on Saturday, which has also now been removed, advised congregants services would temporarily move online, and acknowledged one confirmed case within the congregation, with several others feeling ill and awaiting test results.

“Things can certainly change quickly!” the post read. “We’ve needed to adjust course due to some developing dynamics within our church family.”

“Please pray for the health concerns within our church family as many are clearly feeling quite unwell. With the positive cases and those awaiting test results, we also have many in our church who are needing to isolate (or may be asked to soon).”

The service took place at the Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program site, which is owned by the Christian Parents’ Association.

The Rainy River District School Board, which provides educational programming at Sturgeon Creek, announced Sunday a staff member associated with the facility had tested positive, along with another at nearby Donald Young School.

“Through a long-standing agreement with CPA, the [school board] provides the education program during school hours only, which includes providing staff and resources,” the board said in a statement Monday. “This includes following all COVID protocols and providing the necessary PPE to staff.

“What occurs outside of school hours and on weekends is determined by the CPA. We had no involvement in or knowledge of the service that occurred on the SCAP grounds over the Easter weekend.”

Both Pastor Vieira and the region's Medical Officer of Health Doctor Kit Young-Hoon said they were unavailable for interviews Monday.

–With files from Adam Riley, TBT News



Ian Kaufman

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