CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A third person has died as the result of a COVID-19 outbreak linked to a weeklong church event, North Carolina health officials said Thursday.

Mecklenburg County health officials report 82 cases had developed as the result of the events at the United House of Prayer for All People in Charlotte from Oct. 4-11, The Charlotte Observer reported. That compares with 68 cases cited on Wednesday.

Mecklenburg Deputy Health Director Raynard Washington said in a statement that at least five people have been hospitalized in connection with the outbreak.

The county tested at least 127 people for COVID-19 Thursday and has tests scheduled for Friday at a health department location.

At least eight people at a senior living community near the church have confirmed cases linked to the events as well, Washington said, adding that one of those who died was connected to the cluster at Madison Saints Paradise Independent Living.

Religious gatherings have accounted for a large number of COVID-19 clusters recorded by the state Department of Health and Human Services. According to the department, there have been 76 clusters in religious gatherings resulting in 1,040 COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths.