Coronavirus outbreak reported at Texas megachurch whose pastor attended White House ‘superspreader’ event
Gateway Church is in its ninth week of on-site services
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Multiple coronavirus cases broke out this week at a Texas megachurch whose pastor attended last month’s “superspreader” Rose Garden ceremony.
The Gateway Church’s spokesman, Lawrence Swicegood, toldThe Independent that there have been a handful of cases among the church’s more than 1,000 part-time and full-time employees. He said the cases were not related to Senior Pastor Robert Morris’s attendance of the Rose Garden ceremony, where Judge Amy Coney Barrett was formally nominated to the Supreme Court.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Covid-positive employees had come into contact with Pastor Morris.
The 26 September event at the White House Rose Garden was dubbed a “superspreader” event after nearly a dozen attendees, including US lawmakers, White House staff, and President Donald Trump and the first lady tested positive for Covid-19.
The Gateway Church, located in Southlake, Texas, is in its ninth week of on-site services following a hiatus over the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Swicegood told The Independent that the church’s main auditorium is allowing less than half of its usual 4,100 maximum seating capacity.
Mr Morris resumed preaching to socially distanced crowds earlier this month. Mr Swicegood said the pastor had tested negative twice since attending the Rose Garden ceremony.
“Gateway Church and and all of its staff have continued to be vigilant in following Covid guidelines as issued by Texas governor Greg Abbott and Covid task Force as they pertain to churches,” Mr Swicegood said.
“There’s no Covid in heaven, no sorrow, no tears, no pain, no sickness, no disease, no death. None of that’s there!” Mr Morris tweeted on Wednesday. “Everything you love is there. Everything you enjoy on Earth is in Heaven, but it’s a thousand times better!”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments