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Health Policy

UPDATED 01/04/2022

Masks & Social Distancing

We encourage everyone to follow the CDC’s guidelines as they apply to your own situation.

The CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks and keep 6 feet of distance between themselves and others if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission. There may also be personal reasons why vaccinated people need to continue to wear a mask, such having a weakened immune system. In general, we all should continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 out of love for one another.

Healthy Practices

While gathering with us for in-person worship services, we ask that you remember to engage in these healthy practices to help stop the spread of germs:

• Washing your hands is one of the most important steps you can take in staying healthy. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• We also have no-touch hand sanitizer stations available for use.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• The CDC recommends that you wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
• The CDC recommends that you stay at least 6 feet from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces.

When to Stay Home

Because we care deeply about the safety of our church family, we are encouraging families with concerns and pre-existing health conditions to continue to watch the livestream at home.

For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days.

People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter.

Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.  For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.

More information and details can be found here: CDC Updates & Shortens Isolation Period

If you have been feeling sick, we ask that you continue to rest at home if you have the following symptoms:

• Sore throat
• Any colored discharge from the nose or eyes
• Loss of taste or smell
• Excessive coughing/sneezing
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever (100.4ºF and higher), vomiting, or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
• Headache, muscle or body aches
• Started taking antibiotics within the past 48 hours

If You’ve Been Diagnosed

If you or your child has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within 2 days of attending a worship service, please let us know as soon as possible. We will need to communicate with staff and those who attended the service about potential exposure. Your personal information will not be shared and will remain confidential.

Those with exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 should stay home and self-monitor for symptoms, and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

Stay Informed

The Elders continue to closely monitor the situation in our area, consulting with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. Be sure that you are subscribed to the Digital Bulletin to receive all the latest news and updates.