This is an On the Media podcast Extra. I'm Bob Garfield.

Religion has played a pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consider Iran, which, after China in February, showed one of the highest rates of virus deaths.

Many of the first cases were traced back to the Holy City of Combe, which continued to welcome pilgrims into

the month of March. A church in South Korea provided optimal conditions for the virus to spread,

so much so that all 200,000 members of the denomination were tested by the government for COVID-19.

Here in the United States, at one point, almost a third of COVID-19 cases were tested by the government for COVID-19. Here in the United States, at one point, almost a third of COVID-19 cases could be traced back

to one Pentecostal church in Sacramento.

We are currently in peak holy season for three major faiths in the United States, Passover, Easter, and Ramadan,

but at a time when most houses of worship can count on being busiest, lockdown means people

of faith can't celebrate physically together. That is, most people. A few houses of worship across

the country are refusing to close and move online,

in part because of the Holy Season and because they are deeming themselves as essential as grocery

stores. According to data from the American Enterprise Institute, more than 10% of the religious

groups in the United States continue to offer services as usual.

Many of these are evangelical Christian services.

I've got news for you.

This church will never close.

The only time the church is closed is when the rapture is taking place.

That's a Tampa, Florida pastor who was arrested for continuing to hold worship services

at his church.

But since then, the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, having apparently learned nothing about

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