A Derry priest said his chapel would remain closed until the middle of next week following two confirmed cases of coronavirus among his parishioners
Fr Neil Farren, of St Mary's in the parish of Ardmore in the Waterside area of the city, said he took the decision to immediately close his chapel in accordance with Government and health guidelines however ceremonies such as Masses would continue online.
Fr Farren said: "Two of my parishioners contacted me last weekend to tell me they had both tested positive for the virus.
"They are a middle aged married couple, very decent people and very aware of their responsibilities in terms of public health.
"They are good law abiding people and have always been very conscious of social distancing. They contacted me last weekend to say they'd contracted the virus at a family event in Co Derry.
"Altogether six family members, including this couple, have tested positive following the function.
"Initially my two parishioners did not have symptoms after the event.. Their sense of smell and sense of taste were normal, they had no coughing nor did they have a high temperature, it was just when they heard that four other family members at the same function had subsequently tested positive that they decided to be checked out.
"They're not in hospital, they're self isolating at home.
"This couple had been at Mass the previous week so I informed other parishioners via Facebook in case some of them were at the same Mass so they can now take the appropriate steps.
"I also asked parishioners who were sitting near this couple at Mass to seek medical advice and they did and thankfully no one else has displayed symptoms.
"I have decided to close the chapel until the middle of next week to minimize the possibility of it spreading in the parish.
"This is the first case of Covid-19 in the parish since the pandemic started in March. It is a large geographical parish with a parish population of 3,500 so we have been very fortunate.
"These two positive readings occurred as a result of a family function well outside of the parish and not in the parish itself but it just goes to show the potential for the pandemic to spread. Masses will continue as usual online and touch wood we'll not have any more cases."
