ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) – The Chemung County Health Department is reporting a spike in COVID-19 cases following a COVID-19 cluster linked back to a Horseheads-area church.

As WENY News reported, local health officials said Tuesday that cluster had been linked to the Lighthouse Baptist Church on Gardner Road in Horseheads. Cases linked to that cluster were reported in both Chemung and Schuyler Counties.

As a response, the health departments from both counties established a rapid COVID-19 testing site at the Chemung County Fairgrounds on Tuesday.

Wednesday, in an emergency press conference, Chemung County Executive Chris Moss and County Health Director Pete Buzzetti reported that out of the roughly 40 tests conducted at this site, 19 came back positive. Fourteen tested negative and four tests are pending. Additionally, Buzzetti says the county was made aware of 10 additional cases, bringing the total to 29.

County Executive Moss says the church is not cooperating with the health department during this case.

“We understand that some of the parishioners believe that they don't need to cooperate with the health department because God will look out for them,” said Moss. “But the problem with that is they're coming in contact with elderly folks, with children, with family members, and this is how the cluster grows and grows...so it's totally unacceptable to not cooperate with the health department.”

Additionally, the county reports they are seeing community transmission and are concerned about further transmission because some churchgoers recently also attended a wedding. Buzzetti adds that it's currently unknown where exactly the cluster started, but all the patients have the church in common. The county is looking to conduct contact tracing.

“That takes us back a few weeks or a few months from where we last were,” said Buzzetti.

“This is about protection of public health,” Buzzetti added. “We do want to contain this.”

Those who attended the Lighthouse Church should get tested for COVID-19 and contact the County Health Department at 607-737-2028. You can also call the Chemung County COVID-19 Hotline at 607-873-1813.

Moss adds the county has shared the data with the state and the State Department of Health is aware of this situation. The county will also communicate with other counties belonging to the Southern Tier region.

WENY News has reached out to Lighthouse Baptist Church. 

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.