Some of the Pastors and Workers of the Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners Chapel) who attended this year’s edition of the church’s mega annual programme, Shiloh 2020, have reportedly started showing signs of COVID-19 barely two weeks after the event.

Shiloh 2020, which attracted thousands of worshippers, was held December 8 - 13 at Winners Chapel’s gigantic auditorium in Ota, Ogun State, South-West Nigeria, with the Founder and Presiding Bishop David Oyedepo as the chief minister.

News of the outbreak of COVD-19 among some of those who officiated at the programme and their family members was broken on Thursday, December 24, by award-winning investigative journalist ’Fisayo Soyombo.

Apart from breaking the news on his Twitter handle on Thursday evening, Soyombo went ahead to provide details in a series of tweets reproduced below.

“A worker at the Living Faith Church is down with COVID-19 after attending Shiloh 2020.

“His wife, daughter and domestic employee are exhibiting symptoms of the virus — even their dog! Some pastors who attended Shiloh are down with the virus too.”

“This worker didn’t want to physically attend Shiloh, held from December 8 to 13; but had no alternative because the church made it compulsory for workers.

“As can be seen from internet videos, congregants mingled with one another without masks or social distancing.

“In the past, the church observed safety protocol such as social distancing, wearing of face masks and hand washing. However, at Shiloh, no precautionary measures were in place.

“People were just careless.”

“Yes, many people didn’t come this year because of COVID but those in attendance were careless.”

“The problem is this worker knows the pastors currently exhibiting symptoms of the virus will not admit this to the Founder & Presiding Bishop; meaning other potentially infected but asymptomatic Shiloh congregants might continue mixing with people without caution.

“Some Winners pastors are down with COVID; they’re just keeping it to themselves but we can’t just fold our hands.”

“The plea from him is that those who attended Shiloh “should try to isolate themselves and try not to pass on the virus.

“His wish is for people to get educated that the festive season is no excuse for them to physically attend crossover services without recourse to COVID-19 safety protocol.”