Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey finally gave in on Friday and ordered a statewide stay-at-home order that takes effect Saturday after having said that Alabama did not need such restrictions.
One of the hardest hit counties in Alabama is rural Chambers County, which is east central Alabama just north of Auburn and Opelika. Chambers County has had 6 deaths and 74 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of April 3.
That’s a stunning rate of 223 out of 100,000 population, making by far the highest in the state. The number of deaths is the highest in the state, higher even than Jefferson County, where Birmingham is located.
And the culprit seems to have been a church service at Mount Hermon Missionary Baptist Church in the town of Lanett. But unlike the services that are being held in states like Florida in defiance of orders not to allow crowds to gather, this outbreak began at a service weeks ago.
It's difficult to know exactly where someone was infected in the middle of a widespread global pandemic. But according to (Pastor Lamar) Johnson and another firsthand account, congregants reported falling ill after attending a service on Sunday, March 8, a full week before a smattering of religious organizations across the state closed their doors and nearly three weeks before Gov. Kay Ivey would issue statewide orders shuttering large gatherings.
On March 21, Johnson gave a somber video address on Facebook, telling his congregation he'd prayed over the decision for days and that he would be closing the church.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to preach to an empty sanctuary. I'm locking down Mount Hermon. Nobody is allowed in Mount Hermon tomorrow because I've gotta protect my people. It's just going to be me, musicians and a sound crew."
The stay-at-home order is similar to others issued around the country, although it allows for churches to hold services, weddings and funerals provided crowds are no larger than 10 people.