The priest at the Bay Area Catholic Church dies after the COVID-19 outbreak

A priest at a Catholic church in San Francisco that was temporarily closed during a coronavirus outbreak has died, church officials said.

The Rev. Bob Stein, a pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in the San Francisco neighborhood of North Beach died early Tuesday. This comes from an announcement on the Church’s website thanking parishioners for their prayers and support.

Stein was one of three priests and three caregivers to sign COVID-19 this month, church officials said in the latest bulletin.

The church shifted daily services online after Stein and the others tested positive for the coronavirus two weeks ago. There were daily livestreams hoping to reopen the sanctuary for private prayers, but a message on the church’s answering machine said the building is still closed.

Sts. Peter and Paul Church broke news of an attempt to hold an indoor wedding, which was taking place outdoors, this summer when a city representative showed up before the ceremony began. The newly married couple and at least eight guests later tested positive for the coronavirus, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Previously, Sts. Peter and Paul was one of several churches named in a warning letter from the San Francisco City Atty. Dennis Herrera. The church was cited for holding a public mass when indoor services were prohibited under public health regulations.

The church will remain closed until at least February 23, officials said.

The closure was not ordered by the city, said John Coté, the prosecutor’s communications director, earlier.

Under current public health regulations, Places of worship in San Francisco can hold 25% of the capacity indoors, and everyone in attendance must wear face-covering.