CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A church in Charlotte is experiencing the largest outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Mecklenburg County since the pandemic started.

The outbreak at the United House of Prayer for All People on Beatties Ford Road is linked to convocation events that took place from October 4-11.

Mecklenburg County Deputy Health Director Raynard Washington says 99 cases of COVID-19 and three deaths have been connected to these events. Of the three people who died, two of them are women and the third person is a man.

Two of the deceased were over the age of 60, which is a population with higher risk of severe illness from the virus.

One of the deaths was a resident of Madison Saints Paradise South Independent Living. Eleven others at that facility have tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Washington, 137 people have also been identified as close contacts of the 99 confirmed cases. Mecklenburg County Public Health officials have asked them to quarantine and get tested.

He added two other cases have been identified in Iredell County, and there could possibly be more in other areas or states.

“This was a regional event. There were folks who traveled here from the state of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and other parts of the country, so certainly, our concern is not for the event itself. Our concern is for individuals to get tested. We don’t want folks to further spread the virus,” Washington says.

Washington says they asked church leaders to pause hosting any events at their locations for 14 days.

“We continue to encourage them to encourage their members and attendees to get tested, and that’s a really important part of this process,” Washington says.

Jashia Lennon-Bey, who is a church member, was getting tested on Friday. She says she tried to remain socially distant and keep her mask on while attending the events.

“I love my church, and I know they tried to do the best they could to keep an outbreak from going on,” Lennon-Bey says.

She was shocked to see the high number of cases from these events.

“It just breaks my heart. You try to rejoice in the gospel and this is going and it’s really taking people out of here,” Lennon-Bey explains.

Religious worship, funeral ceremonies, wedding ceremonies, and other activities associated with exercising First Amendment rights are exempt from the governor’s gathering size limits. However, it is still recommended for those who participate in these events to promote social distancing, use face coverings, and avoid exceeding maximum occupancy.

The interim guidance for places of worship can be found here.

Mecklenburg County Public Health is expected to give an update on the situation Saturday morning.