SALEM, Ore. (AP) Oregon health officials say at least 74 people linked to a church in Salem have contracted COVID-19.
The Oregon Health Authority started investigating the outbreak at the Peoples Church on April 6, The Statesman Journal reported. The state did not release information about the outbreak until Wednesday.
The church’s website and Facebook page indicates in-person services and events continue to be held there including Mother’s Day services scheduled for Sunday. Officials at Peoples Church declined to respond to questions from the newspaper or acknowledge their specific outbreak.
“We are concerned about the COVID-19 surge in Oregon. This statewide increase has impacted our entire region, including our church family,” church spokesman Brent Kintz said in an email on behalf of church leadership.