A massive, week-long church event in North Carolina has left two people dead from COVID-19, four hospitalized and at least 68 infected, according to a report.
More than 1,000 people, including from out of state, attended the event in Charlotte, held from Oct. 4 to 11, Eyewitness News tweeted.
Those infected included attendees of the event, held by the United House of Prayer for All People, and their close contacts, health officials told the station.
Health officials from Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, have reached out to the health departments of North and South Carolina, Georgia and New York City in hopes of reaching nearly 100 close contacts of those who tested positive.
One of the two who died was a resident at a Charlotte assisted living home, the local ABC news affiliate reported.
“One of the reasons why we discourage large gatherings is because they are difficult to manage,” Dr. Raynard Washington, deputy health director for Mecklenburg County, told the station.
The popular church is known for its lively gospel bands and mass baptisms, according to the Charlotte Observer.