More Than 100 in Germany Found to Be Infected With Coronavirus After Church’s Services

Social distancing was observed and building disinfected for affected Sunday May 10 ceremonies, says senior member

The Evangelical Christian Baptist Church in Frankfurt, where a number of people who attended services

Sunday, May 10 later tested positive for the new coronavirus.

PHOTO: KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS

By William Boston, WSJ

BERLIN—At least 107 people have been found to be infected with the new coronavirus after some of them attended Sunday services at a church in Frankfurt two weeks ago, according to German officials, highlighting the growing risk of new outbreaks of the virus as Germany loosens restrictions on public gatherings.

Local residents of Frankfurt, Germany’s financial center, and surrounding communities became infected during religious services held by the Evangelical Christian Baptist Congregation in Frankfurt on Sunday May 10, city and church officials said.

Kai Klose, the health minister for Hesse state, where Frankfurt, is located, said Sunday that local health officials had begun assembling lists of people who attended the church services and those who later came in contact with them.

“This situation shows how important it is—especially during loosening of restrictions, which is now possible again—that we remain vigilant and do not become careless,” Mr. Klose said. “The virus is still there and wants to spread.”

News of the outbreak in a faith congregation in Germany comes just days after President Trump called on state governors to reopen houses of worship, threatening to “override the governors” if they didn’t. “The ministers, pastors, rabbis, imams and other faith leaders will make sure their congregations are safe as they gather and pray,” Mr. Trump said.

A cyclist rides by the sunset skyline of Frankfurt and its banking district.

PHOTO: KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS

The fresh outbreak after church services in Germany suggests that even adhering to strict social-distancing and hygiene measures may not stop infections when people begin to gather again in large groups.

Wladimir Pritzkau, a senior member of the Frankfurt evangelical Baptist congregation, stressed that the community had observed social distancing, maintaining the recommended distance of about six feet between individuals, and had disinfected the facilities.

He said services at the church had now been canceled for the foreseeable future and would be held only online.

The number of people infected rose dramatically from Saturday, when Rene Gottschalk, head of the Frankfurt Health Office, said that around 40 people had become infected following the church services.

News of the sharp increase in infections in Frankfurt comes after the city of Leer in northwestern Germany said 11 people had contracted Covid-19 after attending a private party at a local restaurant on May 15.

Local health officials ordered around 70 additional people to quarantine at home.

Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s leading virology institute, on Sunday morning reported 431 new confirmed infections over the previous 24 hours, raising the total number of confirmed infections in Germany to 178,281. A total of 8,247 people have died from Covid-19 infections in the country, the Institute said.