Please note the following recommendations for churches related to COVID-19 pandemic, including the guidance from the CDC: (as of 3.16.2020)
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From the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Before and During an Outbreak
Guidance as of 3/15/2020
CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States. Read full recommendation.
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8 weeks from 3/15/2020 is 5/10/2020
It is up to each church’s discretion as to whether or not they continue to meet in person during the next few weeks. Several church announcements are consistent with precautions taken by some congregations to maintain corporate worship and minimize the spread of the virus.
• Continue to meet, but with the utmost precautions in place.
• Encourage the elderly, sick (sickness of any kind), and people who are immunocompromised to remain at home, and worship with us online if possible.
• Provide extra cleaning and sanitizing of facilities, between each worship gathering.
• Continue to encourage the use of hand sanitizer, especially around family ministry check-in stations.
• Discourage shaking hands, including the removal of a “meet and greet” moment during gatherings. Encourage “social distancing,” in the form of leaving a chair in between one’s family and other people in the row (spaced out seating).
• Rather than greeters handling bulletins/handouts, place them on small tables near worship center doors, for you to grab one.
• Do not pass the offering containers during gatherings. Instead, make offering containers available, as parishioners exit, for them to drop off their offerings. Churches with online giving can encourage parishioners to utilize online giving.
• Remind both volunteers and children to wash their hands regularly and to avoid touching their face and eyes.
• As volunteers change diapers, remind them to change their gloves after each diaper change.
• Use changing station paper that is disposed of and changed after each child.
• Work hard to prevent children from sharing drinks or placing toys in their mouths and ask volunteers to enhance their awareness.
• Volunteers wash their hands before snack time and do not handle the snacks with their bare hands.
