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LANETT — Several members of Mount Hermon Baptist Church have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the church’s pastor Dr. Lamar Johnson.

Johnson said one of them has been hospitalized and is in serious condition. The others have been self-quarantined in their homes for 14 days.

Like a growing number of churches, Mount Hermon is closed indefinitely for group gatherings but is continuing to have services online.

Lanett Council Member Jamie Heard is a deacon at Mount Hermon, a church that has long been at the forefront of spiritual life in the West Shawmut community.

Lanett Mayor Kyle McCoy said this is a time for all good people to pray for the good heath and well-being for us all and quick recoveries of those who have fallen ill.

“The number of confirmed cases in Chambers County is on the way up,” he said. “We have seen it go from five on Wednesday to ten on Thursday and to 13 on Friday.”

Public health officials are encouraging citizens to treat this as if we are in a war that the virus is our enemy. People can fight it with social distancing, staying at home as much as possible and practicing good hygiene such as frequent hand washing of up to 20 seconds at a time and the use of hand sanitizer. Anyone who has such symptoms as a fever, dry cough and shortness of breath may call 334-528-SICK, and you will be instructed what to do.