Editor’s note: This article has been change to reflect the correct number of cases linked to the Third Day Worship Centre outbreak, after a larger number was wrongly communicated by KFL&A Public Health Tuesday evening.
KFL&A Public Health confirmed Wednesday morning there is an outbreak at Third Day Worship Centre, a Kingston, Ont., church.
Tuesday night, the church confirmed it was dealing with multiple COVID-19 cases.
“We have learned that there are individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in our church. We understand this to be in relation to a larger outbreak occurring in the Kingston region and had nothing to do with visitors to our church or other regions,” the church said in a statement.
According to public health, nine cases are directly linked to the outbreak.
Third Day said once it learned a congregation member affected by the COVID-19 attended the church Nov. 29, it immediately contacted public health “to report and contain.”
The outbreak was declared Dec. 3. The church said it voluntarily moved its services online until further notice.
“All individuals that have tested positive are self-isolating at home. Individuals deemed to be at high risk were and continue to be in communication with KFL&A Public Health,” the church noted.
The church says it has been working closely with the health unit over the last several days.
“We also closed our offices immediately, disinfected and sanitized the church and hope members of the church and region at large have a safe recovery,” the church said.
The health unit noted that it has not ticketed or sanctioned a place of worship in the area.
Public health also identified an outbreak related to a health-care organization, but did not reveal which one. Eight cases are associated with that outbreak.
In total, the KFL&A region is reporting 53 active cases, the most the region has ever seen at one time.