TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Health Department confirmed a guest speaker at Guts Church tested positive for coronavirus.
The announcement came just days after his visit to the Tulsa church.
"If you're sensitive to the fact we're in global pandemic, and you create a plan and follow it rigorously, I think the outcomes have been very positive," Dr. Bruce Dart, executive director with the Tulsa Health Department, said.
Dr. Dart said Tulsa health officials are working with Guts Church after guest speaker Pastor Gustavo Paez tested positive for COVID-19.
"Our staff have been to the church, have talked with Guts officials, and are working with them as we speak," Dr. Dart said.
HIS Church in Amarillo, TX announced Friday, Paez tested positive for the virus. Paez spoke at Guts Church just a few days before on Tuesday, Jan 26.
Video from the event shows Paez interacting closely with churchgoers and embracing a pair on stage. No one in the video appears to be wearing a mask.
"We were not aware of the event until after it took place," Dr. Dart said.
The City of Tulsa requires venue hosts of events 500 or more to submit a safety plan 14 days in advance, but since large religious gatherings happen so often, health officials told 2 Works for You, they work with churches to structure "overarching" plans for services.
Tulsa Health Department officials said there was no specific plan required for Tuesday's event.
Health officials said Guts Church's plan included mask-wearing and social distancing, but said a Tulsa Health Department review "does not guarantee the effectiveness of the plan."
Dr. Dart said they're working with Guts Church to conduct contact tracing.
Guts Church said in a statement to 2 Works for You:
"We appreciate the Tulsa Health Department for doing everything they can to keep people safe and churches open. We are endeavoring to follow to the letter the protocols that Tulsa County has enacted. We're believing God for total health for everyone in the Tulsa area."
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