Coronavirus: Seven dead, over 175 cases in horror wedding outbreak
At least seven people have died in connection to a coronavirus outbreak that continues to sicken people after a wedding reception that violated state virus guidelines, US public health authorities said.
The August wedding reception at the Big Moose Inn in Millinocket, Maine, is linked to more than 175 confirmed cases of the virus, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday (local time).
State authorities have identified overlaps between the wedding reception and outbreaks elsewhere in the state.
An employee of the York County Jail attended the wedding, CDC officials said.
Maine health officials have also said a staff member from a Madison rehabilitation centre, which is the site of six of the seven deaths, attended the event.
The virus cases stemming from the wedding have spanned hundreds of miles in a state that had largely controlled the spread of the coronavirus through the summer. Maine has reported less than 5,000 cases of the virus in total since March.
But the growing number of cases related to the wedding, which exceeded the state’s guidelines of 50 people or less at indoor gatherings, could undo some of that progress if it continues to swell.
Authorities have said more than 65 people attended the wedding.
The six people from the Madison rehabilitation facility who died were all residents of that facility and none of them attended the wedding reception, Maine CDC director Dr Nirav Shah said.
“Maine CDC is concerned about where we are, and I’m asking everyone else to share in that concern. COVID-19, right now, is not on the other side of the fence. It is in our yards,” Dr Shah said.
“The gains that Maine has made against COVID-19 are ones that could and unfortunately can be washed away.”
The wedding was also officiated by pastor Todd Bell of Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford.
The Maine CDC is currently investigating to determine if an outbreak at the church is connected to the wedding outbreak. That outbreak has seen 10 people fall ill, Dr Shah said.
Calvary Baptist Church issued a statement on Tuesday (local time) said “a number of Calvary Baptist Church members attended” the wedding reception.
The statement said the church was taking precautions to limit the spread of the virus and it would defend its right to continue holding services.
“The Calvary Baptist Church has a legal right to meet. The authority of a local Christian church, a Jewish synagogue, or a Muslim mosque to gather for their respective religious services is a time-honoured part of our nation’s history since its inception,” the statement said.
The surprising country that has quietly beaten the coronavirus pandemic
'Just incredible': Long queues as Melbourne city border set to come into effect
“These religious activities are also fully protected under the First Amendment to our United States Constitution.”
Pastor Bell has been critical of government attempts to control coronavirus and videos show he has held services without the use of social distancing.
He hired a lawyer known nationally for defending the religious rights of churches.
Neither Pastor Bell nor the attorney working with the church, David Gibbs of Florida, personally responded to a request on Tuesday (local time) for comment.
Maine CDC spokesperson Robert Long said the agency’s investigations suggested “multiple potential points of transmission related to the August 7 wedding and reception”.
The agency is working to limit the spread of the virus and support people affected by it, he said.
Big Moose Inn owner Laurie Cormier issued the following in late August confirming the establishment had received a citation from the state, but insisted all wedding guests had their temperature taken and had not shown any symptoms.
"The Big Moose Inn is aware that an outbreak of COVID-19 has been traced back to a wedding in the Katahdin Region in early August. Among the wedding-related events that weekend was a post-wedding dinner at our facility,” she said.
“Our hearts go out to the family, those affected by the virus who were at the wedding, and those who have been impacted since then.
“There is no doubt that this virus is dangerous with wide-ranging impacts. We too are deeply saddened and frustrated by the many devastating impacts of COVID-19. This is a challenging time for all of us,” Ms Cormier said, according to MSNBC.com.
with The Associated Press
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
