“You will not wear masks in this church. I’m telling you right now. Do not get vaccinated, do not get vaccinated. I don’t care what you think about me. I don’t need your money. I don’t need your hand clap. I don’t need more people on social media to follow me.”

The number of COVID-19 infections in Tennessee has rapidly increased over the past weeks, averaging almost 1,900 cases during the past week, state data shows. The state’s seven-day positivity rate has topped 13%, well above the 10% threshold for alarm established by the federal government and the 5% number recommended by the WHO.