Police officers in the United States have issued quarantine notices to parishioners who attended an Easter Sunday church service, saying they're at risk of passing on or contracting COVID-19.
There were about 50 attendees at the Maryville Baptist Church in Hillview, Kentucky, violating the state's law prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people, local news outlet the Courier-Journal reports.
While the two police officers were placing notices on cars' windshields, they were also writing down the number plates of each car that was parked. The notice says those associated with the car will be contacted and given self-quarantine documents, and anyone in their household is also forced to isolate for 14 days.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says no one is being charged, they're being asked to go into quarantine.
"Those that want to have mass gatherings send out a signal all around the country to those that don't think this virus is serious, that don't follow the rules and then want to come to a place to make their point," he said.
The Maryville Baptist Church's pastor Rev Jack Roberts told the Courier-Journal he doesn't intend to end in-person services during the pandemic.
"Everybody has to do what they feel comfortable with," he said.
But he also said he wouldn't tell his congregation to follow or flout the stay-at-home orders - they can choose whether or not they attend.
COVID-19 has killed 97 people in Kentucky and infected over 1800. Throughout the US, there are over 557,300 cases and more than 22,000 deaths.
