Coronavirus Outbreak Hits Sun Valley Megachurch That Ignored Public Health Orders, Three Confirmed Cases

New Coronavirus cases have struck a Sun Valley megachurch after it refused to abide by public health orders amid the pandemic.

Grace Community Church is an evangelical megachurch that maintained its church service for several weeks despite L.A.County’s health orders that instructed communities not to gather in large groups in order to curve the spread of COVID-19. On Thursday, health officials confirmed the church is now the cause of a major outbreak in Los Angeles County’s Sun Valley church. The Los Angeles Department of Public Health has confirmed three cases, KTLA reports.

Public health officials have now launched an investigation into the outbreak and said they will work closely with the church to help block the spread of the virus in the church. The church has an estimated attendance of 7,000, according to KTLA. There are no details that have been provided about whether are not church members or staff have been affected by the virus.

Back in July, the church announced that it would be reopening its doors even though the state of California and L.A. County have put in specific mandates demand social distancing and a ban on groups larger than 5 to 10 people. The public health order in California also bars any house of worship from continuing services. In addition to attending church, some members have not been abiding by safety protocols like wearing a face mask when in public settings.