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Police in Chicago have dispersed a large funeral at a church for flouting the stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic.
The funeral took place at the St Odisho Church at 6201 N. Pulaski Rd on the city's Northwest Side.
Officers spotted a large gathering at around 9 a.m. on Sunday, Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.
Between 40 to 60 people were at the funeral, including several elderly members of the public.
People were also seen drinking from the same cup as part of the religious service.
"Given the public health impacts and the current stay at home order, officers expedited the completion of the funeral service and dispersed patrons," Gugliemi said in the statement. "No arrests were made or citations given."
U.S. law enforcement is taking a strict approach to crimes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now resulted in at least 143,000 confirmed cases in the country, tracking data suggests.
A Florida man was arrested over the weekend after allegedly spraying a substance on a business's doors and telling customers that it contained COVID-19.
David Randolph White, 50, was detained on Sunday by deputies from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) after being identified during an investigation conducted alongside the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. The arrest was confirmed by inmate records filed by the region's Department of Corrections.
Officers were dispatched to a local business just before noon after receiving a call about an "intentional COVID-19 contamination incident," JSO said.
At the scene, witnesses said the man had approached the store holding a container that was labeled "COVID-19," the infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus.
Authorities said White was "identified early on" and quickly apprehended for questioning. He was arrested on the charge of "manufacturing, possession, sale, delivery, display, use, or attempted or threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction or hoax weapon of mass destruction."
World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
- Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
- Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
- Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms.
- Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people.
- If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance.
- Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask and glove usage
- Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
- Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
- Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
- Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask.
- Do not reuse single-use masks.
- Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.
- The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face.
