Clear Creek Community Church in League City is closing this week after more than 125 people tested positive for COVID-19 after returning home from summer camp.
According to a report by Khou.com, the student ministry camp was for 6th to 12th graders, which means most are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of children in that age group are not vaccinated.
“The rates aren’t that high across the country, so there are a lot of youngsters that are susceptible,” said Dr. Catherine Troisi, an infectious diseases epidemiologist at the UTHealth School of Public Health.
According to the CDC, one out of every five children aged 12 to 15 is fully vaccinated. Approximately one-third of 16- to 17-year-olds have received the jabs.
More than 400 people attended the camp, according to the pastor of the League City church. Over a hundred people have tested positive for the virus, but there is a good chance that many more have been exposed.
The Galveston County Health District is currently investigating the positive instances.
“We’re checking for the Delta version to determine if that’s the source of it spreading so quickly within that population,” Dr. Philip Kaiser said. “It serves as a cautionary story for other churches planning gatherings. Be cautious, especially when planning get-togethers for children who haven’t all been vaccinated yet,” he added.
Over the weekend, the Clear Creek Community Church released a message on social media, saying: “Services at CCCC campuses are canceled for Sunday July 4 and Wednesday July 7 due to a significant number of people testing positive for COVID-19 after returning from camp.”
It further said: “If you, or someone in your family, begins to have symptoms, please seek medical attention immediately.”
