DC church reports its rector tests positive for coronavirus

A prominent Episcopal church in Washington suspended all activities Sunday after anuncing that one of its senior leers was first person in nation’s capital to test positive for coronavirus.

Rev. Timothy Cole, church rector, was in stable condition after being hospitalized Saturday night, according to a statement from Rev. Crystal Hardin, assistant rector.

``Out of an abundance of caution, Christ Church has canceled all activities including church services until furr tice. We recommend that concerned community members contact ir health care providers,” statement said.

“Above all else, we kw that wher we meet in person or in spirit, t one of us is alone while we have each or. And, we firmly believe that we are held in God’s embrace through it all. Praying without ceasing for all affected, for all in fear, and for all who are working to find solutions,” statement said.

According to church’s website, Cole has been rector since September 2016. “He brings with him depth of his experience in service with and to young people and families, a dedication to pastoral care and community building through outreach and prayer, a joy in tritional liturgy and music, and a commitment to scripture,″ site says. He is married and has two children.

Officials on Saturday h anunced district’s first positive test, but identified victim only as a man in his 50s. A second local positive test involves a man who visited Washington area from Nigeria, but he was being hospitalized in Maryland, Mayor Muriel Bowser said.

Health officials said Sunday said y h determined as part of ir investigation that “an individual’s visitation to Christ Church Georgetown warrants precautionary measures” and y recommended a temporary halt to services.

In response, church publicly identified Cole as victim.

Virginia recorded its first case Saturday when a Marine stationed at Fort Belvoir was found to have virus. On Sunday, Virginia officials anunced a second case involving a Fairfax man in his 80s who took a Nile River cruise.

District officials said y h plans to cancel any events, including annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which starts on March 20 and draws thousands of tourists.

“We recognize that it is fluid and every day we will monitor situation on ground in district,” Bowser said.

Dr. Jennifer Smith, who les Washington’s public health laboratory, said officials have capability of testing about 50 patients per day. district has also ordered more than 42,000 masks to be delivered to district’s fire and emergency medical workers, officials said.

Officials said y were in contact with ir counterparts at health departments across U.S., including in New York and California, after two people who attended American Israel Public Affairs Committee event in Washington recently were diagsed with coronavirus.

Maryland officials said a person who attended recent Conservative Political Action Conference in suburban Oxon Hill h tested positive for virus. Both President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence spoke at conference. White House said re was indication that eir h met or were in “close proximity” to infected attendee.

Marine at Fort Belvoir was first military case of coronavirus reported inside U.S., said a Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anymity to discuss case.

Marine was being treated at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, located south of Washington, and h recently returned from an overseas assignment, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said on Twitter.

Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, director of epidemiology and population health for Fairfax County health department, said Fairfax man developed systems of respiratory illness on Feb. 28 and was hospitalized on March 5. He remains hospitalized but is in stable condition and t in an intensive care unit, Schwartz said.

“Fortunately, individual h limited contact with ors while ill, and refore risk to general Fairfax community remains low,” said county’s health director, Dr. Gloria do-Ayensa.

Virginia state epidemiologist Dr. Lilian Peake said testing for Fort Belvoir case was done at Walter Reed medical center, and testing for Fairfax resident was done at a state lab in Richmond.

“ two cases are t related,” Peake said. “At this point, re are signs of virus spreing in community in Virginia.”

Im Credits: AP