Gwinnett church offering COVID-19 testing for Christmas Eve service

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Metro Atlanta churches are making contingency plans for Christmas Eve services as the state deals with the omicron variant surge.

Rev. Irma Guerra takes two things seriously: her ministry at Christ Church Episcopal and COVID-19 awareness.

Guerra has helped dozens of people in the Hispanic community get vaccinated in Gwinnett County.

“I would say, ‘Do you want to save your life? Do you want to save the life of others?’” Guerra said.

It is a mission the reverend began earlier this year.

“I said OK, I’m going to get my flyers and I’m going to promote the vaccine. That’s what I’m going to do,” she said.

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Guerra took flyers out to the Hispanic communities in Gwinnett and other areas to promote vaccine clinics and clear up misinformation about the vaccine.

Guerra said some who were hesitant to get vaccinated came back to her with a different mindset.

“He got COVID, gave it to his grandma and his grandma died. So he called me two weeks after and said I want to get the vaccine,” she said.

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With the holidays in full swing, Guerra wants to prevent families from getting sick.

“When omicron start hitting, especially our families, they start calling me a lot, where can I get the vaccine?”

Christ Church Episcopal will hold a COVID-19 testing clinic in the hours before its 5 p.m. Christmas Eve service Friday.

“Just come and get tested before you go and visit somebody or before you go to the service,” Guerra said.

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