Health officials in Sacramento believe that a Russian language church has become the center of a coronavirus outbreak, CNN reports.
In an interview on Thursday, Sacramento County Department of Health Services director Dr. Peter Beilenson told a local television station that at least 70 people who attend the Bethany Slavic Missionary Church were infected with the coronavirus. Beilenson explained that he didn't name the church to "cast aspersions on anybody," instead he wants to stress the importance of social distancing.
When talking to the church officials about the outbreak, Beilenson said that they "basically told us to leave them alone."
"This is extremely irresponsible and dangerous for the community," he said.
Health Department spokeswoman Janna Haynes tells CNN that they believe the virus is being spread through bible study and fellowship meetings at members' homes. With Palm Sunday and Easter approaching, the Health Department is concerned about members meeting to fellowship and worship together. They have enlisted translators to urge the Russian speaking community to stay in their homes.
Following the reports, the church released a statement on Friday denying the outbreak claims. Representatives for the church call the reports "inaccurate and falsely place emphasis on this church." It says that it abided with local guidelines and regulations by closing its doors on March 18. Also, the church says that it is telling its members to stay home and that it hasn't received information on any of their members dying from COVID-19 despite reports made by a local newspaper. Additionally, church leaders hadn't "at any time respond (ed) 'leave us alone'" to health officials.
This prompted the health department to reiterate that it is not trying to condemn the church; it just wants the member to abide by social distancing regulations. As of Friday, there have been 390 confirmed coronavirus cases in Sacramento County, resulting in 10 deaths.
"While we know that the church as a whole has ceased to meet and the leadership is hosting online services, we have been told by multiple sources that there are groups that continue to meet in homes, despite the public health order to not gather with anyone outside of household members," the health department said. "These gatherings have been directly linked to the clusters of cases in the community."
