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5 South Hills churches closed for cleaning after employee tests positive for COVID-19

Diocese of Pittsburgh says employee at Blessed Trinity Parish tested positive for coronavirus

5 South Hills churches closed for cleaning after employee tests positive for COVID-19

Diocese of Pittsburgh says employee at Blessed Trinity Parish tested positive for coronavirus

BECAUSE OF THIS, FIVE BUILDINGS ARE NOW CLOSED. THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH SAYS IT HAS TO SHUT DOWN SEVERAL OF ITS CHURCHES TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. ONE PARISHONER SAYS SHE WENT TO MASS AT SAINT ALBERT THE GREAT SUNDAY. >> {"I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO DO TO PROTECT EVERYBODY. REPORTER: RIGHT NOW FATHER STEVE KRESAK OF BLESSED TRINITY PARISH IS LINING UP AN OUTSIDE SANITIZING COMPANY AND HELPING STAFF AND PARISHIONERS WITH THEIR QUESTIONS. WITH A WORKER AT BLESSED TRINITY PARISH TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, THE BUILDING WHERE THAT EMPLOYEE WORKED, SAINT ALBERT THE GREAT, HAD TO ALONG WITH FOUR OTHERS. BUT FATHER KRESAK SAYS ALL THE BUILDINGS WILL BE OPEN SOON. >> "I'M REALLY SAD ABOUT IT HAVING TO CLOSE, BUT I UND ENDER STAND. >> {"IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT FOR THE CHURCH TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ANYBODY GETTING SICK. REPORTER: TOM WILSON'S WIFE JOANN WENT TO MASS AT SAINT WENDELIN SUNDAY. THAT CHURCH IS NOW CLOSED. >> {"EVERY OTHER PEW IS BLOCKED OFF AND THERE'S ONLY LIKE FOUR PEOPLE ALLOWED IN A PEW. THEY HAVE LIKE MARKINGS IN A PEW SO EVERYONE IS SEPARATED. REPORTER: IN ADDITION TO SAINT ALBERT THE GREAT AND SAINT WENDELIN IN CARRICK OTHER CHURCHES AND BUILDINGS WITHIN THE PARISH SHUT THEIR DOORS TO BE DISINFECTED. SAINT BASIL IS NOW CLOSED IN CARRICK TOO. ALONG WITH HOLY ANGELS IN HAYES. AND SAINT SYLVESTOR IN BRENTWOOD. WILSON SAYS IT'S BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. >> {"THEY COULD HAVE BEEN AT ONE OF THE OTHER CHURCHES. REPORTER: THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NONE OF THE CHURCHES ARE OPEN FOR DAILY MASSES AND THEY WILL BE CLOSED FOR THIS WEEK. >> {"WE JUST HAVE TO WORK THROUGH IT. REPORTER: THE DIOCESE SAYS STAFF MEMBERS WERE TOLD ABOUT POSSIBLE EXPOSURE AND ADVISED TO CONTACT THEIR DOCTOR. THEY ALSO SAY ANYBODY WITH DIRECT EXPOSURE TO THE WORKER WHO TESTED POSITIVE ARE BEING TESTED FOR COVID-19. >> {"FATHER KRESAK SAYS AL
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5 South Hills churches closed for cleaning after employee tests positive for COVID-19

Diocese of Pittsburgh says employee at Blessed Trinity Parish tested positive for coronavirus

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will close five churches in the Blessed Trinity Parish after an employee at St. Albert the Great in Baldwin tested positive for COVID-19.St. Basil and St. Wendelin in Carrick, Holy Angels in Hays and St. Sylvester in Brentwood will also be closed this week for cleaning and sanitation as a precaution. None of the churches are open for daily Mass.According to the diocese, the Allegheny County Health Department is being contacted. Staff members who were at risk of exposure were informed and advised to contact their doctor for guidance. People with direct exposure to the positive employee are being tested for the virus and will be voluntarily self-quarantining per local, state and federal guidelines.The Rev. Steve Kresak, of Blessed Trinity Parish, said all buildings should be open by next weekend."As important as the spiritual health and well-being of our parishioners and local community is to me as the pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish, so too is their physical health and well-being, especially during these challenging times of the current pandemic," Kresak said in a news release. "I take very seriously the commitment to doing all I can to provide a safe environment for people to work and worship within our parish. I, along with my clergy team and staff, are fully committed to doing all we can to protect everyone who comes through our doors to encounter the Lord."

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will close five churches in the Blessed Trinity Parish after an employee at St. Albert the Great in Baldwin tested positive for COVID-19.

St. Basil and St. Wendelin in Carrick, Holy Angels in Hays and St. Sylvester in Brentwood will also be closed this week for cleaning and sanitation as a precaution. None of the churches are open for daily Mass.

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According to the diocese, the Allegheny County Health Department is being contacted. Staff members who were at risk of exposure were informed and advised to contact their doctor for guidance. People with direct exposure to the positive employee are being tested for the virus and will be voluntarily self-quarantining per local, state and federal guidelines.

The Rev. Steve Kresak, of Blessed Trinity Parish, said all buildings should be open by next weekend.

"As important as the spiritual health and well-being of our parishioners and local community is to me as the pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish, so too is their physical health and well-being, especially during these challenging times of the current pandemic," Kresak said in a news release. "I take very seriously the commitment to doing all I can to provide a safe environment for people to work and worship within our parish. I, along with my clergy team and staff, are fully committed to doing all we can to protect everyone who comes through our doors to encounter the Lord."