'God's hand of protection': woman dies in major COVID-19 outbreak at defiant Montreal church

A woman has died and dozens more have fallen ill in an outbreak of COVID-19 at Good News Chapel in Montreal, where religious leaders have been accused of spreading misinformation about the virus and disregarding public health measures.

The 61-year-old woman, whose first name is Diana, died Sunday, two weeks after being admitted to hospital. CTV News has chosen not to publish her full name.

Her cousin, Judy Fuoco, believes Diana caught the virus at the Good News Chapel, in the city's St-Leonard borough.

“Her family, Diana, and her husband decided they didn't need to be vaccinated based on what they were being told at church,” Fuoco, who is also a former follower of the church, told CTV News in an interview.

Diana’s mother also died of complications due to COVID-19 almost a year ago, Fuoco said, before vaccines were available.