Fundie Churches Spread COVID-19

Right-wing fundie churches have been defying public health warnings about large gatherings and personal protection by going about their Bible banging business. We've noted some of them in California, Florida and Louisiana, and there are new reports of these defiant churches acting as petri dishes for the virus. From yesterday's weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report from the CDC regarding an Arkansas church:

"Among 92 attendees at a rural Arkansas church during March 6–11, 35 (38%) developed laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, and three persons died. Highest attack rates were in persons aged 19–64 years (59%) and ≥65 years (50%). An additional 26 cases linked to the church occurred in the community, including one death."

The CDC goes on to advise the Bible bangers:

"Faith-based organizations should work with local health officials to determine how to implement the U.S. Government guidelines for modifying activities during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent transmission of the virus to their members and their communities."

It's doubtful that they will work with health officials, given their rejection of medical science and embrace of the mysteries of the supernatural, and particularly when their authoritarian golden calf is openly calling for his cult members to pack the churches:

"I call upon governors to allow our churches and places of worship to open right now. If there's any question, they're going to have to call me, but they're not going to be successful in that call," Trump said. "The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now, for this weekend. If they don't do it, I will override the governors. In America we need more prayer, not less."

Of course, Trump can't order governors to do any such thing, but don't tell that to his cult members, who believe he's the Chosen One, and believe whatever he says. He's pandering to them, as he flails and bluffs during his failed response to the virus pandemic, and his urging will result in more deaths among his gullible, at risk flock.

BONUS:

Thing is most houses of worship either never fully closed or have re-opened within sensible guidelines such as 25% capacity. Trump's stunt is clearly aimed at the megachurches that need meat in seats to keep the SuperPacs funded and the pastor's Gulfstream flying.

— Zeddy (@Zeddary) May 22, 2020