— The Wake County man who has contracted COVID-19 is a member of a Cary church but hasn't been there since he has had symptoms of the infection, according to the church's senior pastor.

Rev. Wolfgang Herz-Lane issued a statement Thursday that the man is part of the Christ the King Lutheran Church congregation but was last on the church campus on Feb. 25.

Herz-Lane said Wake County public health officials said there are no concerns about coronavirus spreading at the church, so all programs and activities continue as usual. That included services which were held at the church Thursday night.

"We are, however, following the recommendations for taking common-sense precautions, such as limiting contact among parishioners during worship and frequently wiping down door knobs and surfaces," he said.

The congregation, for example, has stopped holding hands during the Lord's Prayer and shaking hands during the Sharing of the Peace. Communion servers are sanitizing their hands prior to distribution, and people can decline intinction, or dipping the host into the wine during communion.

"As his pastor, I am providing pastoral care to him and his family by telephone," Herz-Lane said.

Liza Wiedle said she was at the same service as the coronavirus patient.

"We kind of thought through where did we go, where did we sit, how was communion served," Wiedle said.

The church also served as a polling place during the primary elections on Tuesday.

The man tested positive for a new coronavirus strain on Tuesday. Health officials said he has been in isolation at home since then, and his family is quarantined in the home.

Gov. Roy Cooper announced in a press conference the man who has the virus recently traveled to Washington state and was exposed to a long-term care facility that has had numerous cases of coronavirus, or COVID-19.

The Wake County patient traveled through Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Feb. 22, airport officials said earlier this week.

The man ate at So•ca restaurant at Cameron Village in Raleigh last Saturday, and the restaurant was professionally cleaned on Thursday.