The pastor of a Virginia church who defied social distancing while claiming "God is larger than this virus" has died after contracting Covid-19.
Bishop Gerald Glenn, the pastor of New Deliverance Evangelistic Church and his wife Marcietia Glenn had both tested positive for coronavirus.
The church announced during Easter Sunday service that the pastor died on Saturday.
Bishop Glenn had publicly rejected official guidelines to avoid large religious gatherings and promised to keep preaching "unless I'm in jail or the hospital".
He said in a sermon on March 22: "I firmly believe that God is larger than this dreaded virus".
This was despite Virgina Governor Ralph Northam urging people to avoid "non-essential gatherings". The day after the sermon, an executive order banning all public and private gatherings of ten people or more was issued.
Bishop Glenn's daughter, Mar-Gerie Crawley, told WTVR-TV news that the family noticed he was having health issues and within a week his symptoms had worsened.
She said: "He has diverticulitis, so it's not uncommon for him to get fevers or you know virus or sinus infection."
Friends of the pastor have paid tribute.
Senator Tim Kaine took to Twitter to express his condolences for his friend and "pillar or Richmond faith community".
Pastor Joe Ellison Jr told CBS 6 that Bishop Glenn was his mentor.
"I said this guy is not only a pastor," said Mr Ellison. "He made me realise that I could be an outstanding pastor, outstanding husband an outstanding father most importantly, an outstanding leader."
