Over 180 people exposed to virus at California church

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — More than 180 people in a rural Northern California county were asked to self-quarantine after they were exposed to the coronavirus during a Mother's Day church service attended by an infected person, health officials said.

The infected person received their positive COVID-19 diagnosis the day after they attended service at a church in the town of Palermo and is now isolating at home, Butte County Public Health said in a news release Friday.

Health officials have contacted those who attended the service and given them instructions to self-quarantine and information about how to monitor themselves for symptoms and how to contact the public health office if they become sick, the statement said.

Everyone who was at the service will be tested, officials said.

Butte County Public Health did not name the church but said its decision hold a service could cause a major setback and require the county to revert back to more restrictive measures.

“We implore everyone to follow the State order and our reopening plan to help combat the potential spread of Covid-19," said Danette York, director of Butte County Public Health.

Butte County is one of 23 counties that have been given the green light by state officials to reopen more businesses but gatherings of any size are still banned.

As of Sunday, Butte County has had 22 positive COVID-19 cases reported and no deaths.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

Pastor Mike Jacobsen of Palermo Bible Family Church, also known as PBFC, said during a virtual church service...