‘It spread like wildfire.’ How one man at church with COVID-19 led to 91 cases in Ohio
A single person attending church with COVID-19 led to an outbreak of nearly 100 cases, showing the risk of group gatherings during the pandemic, Ohio officials say.
The 56-year-old man attended a church service on June 14 while infected with coronavirus, Gov. Mike DeWine says. By the Fourth of July, at least 91 people ranging in age from a 1-year-old girl to a 67-year-old woman had the virus.
“It spread like wildfire,” DeWine said.
DeWine tweeted that churches and religious faith “are at the core of our great state and country” but warned of following safety guidelines to prevent spread of COVID-19.
“It is vital that to control the spread of the virus that any time people gather together, including for religious services, that everyone wear masks, practice social distancing, wash hands, and also while indoors, making sure there is good ventilation and airflow,” DeWine said.
On Thursday, DeWine’s office announced he tested positive for COVID-19 just before a scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump, McClatchy News reported.
A graphic by the Ohio Department of Health shows how the coronavirus spread after the church service.
This slide shows the spread of the virus to at least 91 different people resulting from just one person with #COVID19 attending a church service. It spread like wildfire. pic.twitter.com/j70ENyMk2T
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) August 4, 2020
The governor shared other examples of how the virus spreads in group gatherings.
• A son staying with his dying father was infected while family visited to pay their final respects, leading to the infections of five relatives, including a great-nephew. A party at the great-nephew’s house led to two more cases, including a child.
• At a wedding, the groom’s brother was symptomatic but still attended. Fifteen people got sick, including the bride, groom and grandfather.
• A bridal shower led to six cases in six households.
“None of us want to stay away from our families and of course, it’s natural to want to show affection when you see them. But this virus (is) lurking,” DeWine tweeted. “Please try to remember that you are showing love by protecting them.”
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