The first coronavirus case in Washington, D.C. is the rector of Christ Church Georgetown, according to The Washington Post.
The Rev. Timothy Cole tested positive Saturday after being hospitalized since Thursday.
"First, I want to assure you that I will be OK," Cole wrote in an email to parishioners, the Post reports, saying "there is no reason to panic."
"I am receiving excellent care and am in good spirits under the circumstances. I will remain quarantined for the next 14 days as will the rest of my family."
The Episcopal parish canceled Sunday services and has been emailing and calling parishioners, saying Cole was present for three services last week, which a total of 550 people, attended the Post reported.
In the D.C. area there are seven cases, including a second presumptive case in Virginia, according to the report.
"Our message to D.C. residents continues to be: Help us prevent the spread of germs and stay informed," Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said at a news conference Saturday, per the Post.
There are no plans to cancel D.C. events, according to Bowser.
"We recognize that it is fluid, and every day we will monitor the situation on the ground in the District," she said, per the Post. "We put the safety of D.C. residents first."
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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