Coronavirus Update: 7 Cases Confirmed At 2 Catholic Churches In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – No place seems to be safe from the coronavirus.
Seven new cases have been linked to a pair of Catholic churches in Queens.
Closure signs are plastered all over Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church in Woodside, Queens, after church leaders say a member of the parish tested positive for the coronavirus.
"It's terrible, what are you doing to do? Wash your hands, be smart," one parishioner said.
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The Diocese of Brooklyn says it's a Eurcharistic minister who passed out Holy Communion on Ash Wednesday, Feb 26. The person was also in Mass on Feb. 29.
Meanwhile, two miles away in East Elmhurst, concern is growing. Six members of St. Gabriel's Catholic church also tested positive for COVID-19. They attended three community group gatherings on March 3, 7 and 10.
Patricia Suro was at one of those gatherings.
"I was there at 10 o'clock. I come here with my children," Suro said.
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"So you were here when those people had it," said CBS2's John Dias.
"Wow, I don't know that," Suro said.
She came to work Wednesday wearing a mask, unaware she may have already been exposed to the virus.
"I feel so bad now, and bad for all families, you understand. Because that is very sad, only we have to pray because that's a dangerous virus," she said.
Both parish churches are closed for now, undergoing a deep cleaning and sanitization while church leaders say anyone who was at these churches during the noted times should contact their doctor if they exhibit any coronavirus symptoms.
The Diosese of Brooklyn has temporarily cancelled all of its masses, not just the ones at these two locations. They say private prayer is still allowed.