Florida Pastor Says 6 Church Members Died From COVID In Past 10 Days: ‘It’s Painful’

A pastor in Florida expressed the “pain” he and his congregation feel after the death of six unvaccinated church members from COVID-19 within 10 days, while 20 to 30 others remain sick from the new virus.

Senior Pastor George Davis of Impact Church in the Arlington neighborhood of Jacksonville on Friday told News4Jax he was urging more members to get vaccinated amid the outbreak, which he says has failed. not started at church.

He noted that all of the deceased members were in good health before contracting COVID-19, and four of them were under 35.

“In the past 10 days, we have had six members of our church who died of COVID. Four of them were under 35. All were healthy and the only thing they had in common was that ‘they weren’t vaccinated,’ Davis told local media.

Davis explained that his church follows all guidelines put forward by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Worshipers are required to wear masks, the church implements social distancing policies, the building is cleaned between wards, and hand sanitizer is provided.

The pastor said that after speaking with the families of the deceased and sick, he is convinced that they caught the virus somewhere outside the church.

In addition to those who have died, the pastor explained that 15 to 20 other members remain hospitalized with COVID-19. About ten others are at home to fight against the virus. Only three to five vaccinated members have tested positive, Davis told News4Jax.

“It’s pain,” said the pastor. “These are real people I know, whom I have been pastor. A 24 year old child, I have known him since he was little.”

The church had already strongly encouraged vaccinations against the new coronavirus. In March, the congregation organized a vaccination campaign in which some 800 people were reportedly vaccinated. Following the outbreak among church members, the religious community organized another vaccination event in conjunction with University of Florida Health on Sunday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Representative Ted Lieu, a Californian Democrat, shared a link to the news on Twitter on Saturday.

“God created the laws of chemistry and biology. Don’t expect God to make a special exception that these laws won’t apply to you,” Lieu wrote with the link.

He then quoted from the Bible: “’The scriptures also say,’ You must not test the Lord your God. ‘ Matthew 4: 7. #SoulsLostToCovid. “

The state of Florida alone has accounted for about 18% of the average daily new COVID-19 infections in the United States over the past two weeks, according to The New York Times‘tracker. Florida has the highest daily new infections of any state, averaging over 19,000 per day over the past 14 days. Duval County, where Jacksonville is located, has averaged more than 1,100 new cases every day.

Meanwhile, about 70% of Florida residents have received at least one dose of one of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Over 59% received the two required injections.

News week contacted Impact Church for further comment, but did not immediately receive a response.