89 Percent of Oregon County's Coronavirus Cases Linked to Church Outbreak
An outbreak of coronavirus cases linked to a church in northeast Oregon is responsible for almost 90 percent of diagnoses identified in its surrounding county.
According to reports from local news outlets, which cite comments from State Health Officer and Deputy State Epidemiologist Thomas Jeanne, at least 236 people who contracted the illness in Oregon's Union County were connected to the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church's virus outbreak.
Although Union County was not permitted to transition into Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan, which loosened public gathering restrictions, until June 5, the church reportedly held in-person services before the end of May.
A video deleted from the church's Facebook page earlier this month reportedly showed several hundred congregation members standing close together while attending a service on May 24, according to The Oregonian.