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More than 200 confirmed cases of COVID-19 linked to Fitchburg church

FITCHBURG, Mass. — More than 200 confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been traced back to a church in Fitchburg, according to a release Friday by the city’s office of the board of health.

The release said that tracing has identified more than 200 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 200 contacts linked to Crossroads Community Church in Fitchburg on or around Oct. 18. Those cases and contacts have affected more than 75 businesses and 22 jurisdictions, the release said.

More than 80% of confirmed cases are symptomatic, the release said.

The church, located at 839 Ashby State Road, has voluntarily closed until further notice and no reopening date has been set, according to the release.

The Fitchburg Health Department said it encourages anyone associated to get tested.

At the end of October, Stephen Curry, the city’s director of public health, said that 35 people had been infected with the coronavirus from services and programs held at Crossroads Community Church.

Curry said that the Fitchburg Health Department is considering moving backwards in its reopening plan to help stop the spread of the virus.

The Fitchburg Health Department said it is working on additional testing sites with jurisdictions bordering Fitchburg and municipalities associated with the cluster.