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From Biblical parables to straightforward tips on staying at home and how social distancing is important, these church signs are grabbing people’s attention and they can’t help but share them on social media.
While some religious institutions are inspiring people, one Russian language church near Sacramento in California is getting a lot of heat. CNN reports that at least 70 people at the Bethany Slavic Missionary Church were infected with the coronavirus.
Sacramento County Department of Health Services director Dr. Peter Beilenson said that he named the church because he really wants to “hammer home the importance of not congregating, not only in church but also in prayer gatherings in people’s homes.”
Dr. Beilenson also pointed out that this particular church’s leaders “told us to leave them alone” and added that “this is extremely irresponsible and dangerous for the community.” The church believes that it’s being singled out and claims that reports about the number of infected are “inaccurate.”
Meanwhile, Health Department representative Janna Haynes says that officials believe that Covid-19 is being spread during Bible study and meetings at congregants’ homes. However, others from the church are attending services online.
“It's a touchy subject. A lot of people believe they will be divinely protected, that God is stronger than the virus," Vlad Kirgiz, the editor of The Evening Sacramento, a Russian language news blog, told CNN.
