Three churches close over coronavirus outbreak; Sea lion center also shut

Three churches in Enschede are closed with immediate effect due to a coronavirus outbreak. The Pieterburen sea lion center is also closing its doors to visitors because a volunteer tested positive for the virus.

In Enschede, a number of members of a card club that meets in the Syrian Orthodox Saint Kuryakos church on Wesselbrinklaan tested positive for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, De Stentor reports. Since the Syrian Orthodox community in Enschede is very close, with lots of people interacting with each other, the church decided in consultation with health service GGD Twente to close all three churches for two weeks. This includes the churches on Leunenberg and Tromplaan. All activities are canceled to avoid further spread.

The infected card players have all been in contact with the GGD and are self-isolating. The GGD is busy with the source and contact tracing. The other church members were informed of the situation and asked to monitor their health.

A volunteer at the Pieterburen sea lion and seal rescue center tested positive for Covid-19, the center announced on Monday. As a precaution, the center will close to visitors and all 16 volunteers will quarantine for two weeks, a spokesperson for the center said to RTV Noord. He could not say how long the center will be closed. "Normally the isolation takes two weeks. But we will consult with the GGD on what to do next."

The 16 volunteers all live on site and will be quarantined there. The animals in the center's care will still be cared for by employees during the quarantine.

The center worked with online reservations for visitors and was sold out for the coming days. People who bought tickets will get a refund.