Volusia County

Church in Deland temporarily shuts down after member tests positive for coronavirus

Trinity United Methodist Church has shut down for two weeks as a precaution after one of its members tested positive for coronavirus.

It is one of two cases in Volusia County.

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A white note posted on the church door is alerting parishioners that it will not reopen until March 23. On the church’s website, a message was posted saying the Department of Health said one of the members of its congregation tested positive for COVID-19.

“Right now, the way things are going, I understand why they don’t want to bring everyone together and have a possibility of someone getting ill,” said Suzan Glick, who lives across the street from the church and used to attend service there. “The more cautious you are, the better off, and it’s better for other people, too.”

The Department of Health cannot confirm or deny anyone at the church has tested positive, but officials say the contents of the post do contain the proper Center for Disease Control protocol for those who have the virus.

The church says the person had been on property in the past 14 days and was exposed to the virus in a travel-related setting.

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Volusia County has two confirmed cases: A 66-year-old woman came back as a presumptive-positive case Saturday, and a 60-year-old woman tested positive Monday. Both traveled internationally and are in isolation.

Health officials haven’t said which city the women are from, where they traveled or if their cases are related.

The church is advising its congregation to call the doctor if they have any flu-like symptoms between now and March 20.



Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.