Are We Safe Yet?1st Episcopal District Planning Meeting

August 27, 2020

Rev. Miriam Burnett, MD, MPH

Medical Director, International Health CommissionPastor, Jones Tabernacle AMEC, Philadelphia, PA

Are We Safe Yet?

Local Rate

Regional Rate

Statewide Rate

Are We Safe Yet?

Local Church Re-Entry

Preparedness

Distance Traveled

Risk Factors

Increased Risk• People of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk

for severe illness from COVID-19:• People of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe

illness from COVID-19:• Cancer• Chronic kidney disease• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)• Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or

cardiomyopathies• Sickle cell disease• Type 2 diabetes mellitus https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-

medical-conditions.html

Increased RiskBased on what we know at this time, people with the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19:

• Asthma (moderate-to-severe)

• Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)

• Cystic fibrosis

• Hypertension or high blood pressure

• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines

• Neurologic conditions, such as dementia

• Liver disease

• Pregnancy

• Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)

• Smoking

• Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)

• Type 1 diabetes mellitushttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html

Increased Risk

“Children who have medical complexity, who have neurologic, genetic, metabolic conditions, or who have congenital heart disease might be at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to other children.”

“Based on what we know at this time, pregnant people might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people. Additionally, there may be an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, among pregnant people with COVID-19.” https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-

medical-conditions.html

In general,

• the more people you interact with,• the more closely you interact with them, and • the longer that interaction, • the higher your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.

Questions to ask:

• How many people will you interact with?• Can you keep 6 feet of space between you and others?• Will you be outdoors or indoors?• What’s the length of time that you will be interacting with people?• When around others, can you wear a mask properly at all times?• Everyone should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds at the

beginning and end of the visit and whenever you think your hands may have become contaminated.

• If soap and water are not readily available, do you can you use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

The risk of COVID-19 spreading at events and gatherings increases as follows:• Lowest risk: Virtual-only activities, events, and gatherings.

• More risk: Smaller outdoor and in-person gatherings in which individuals from different households remain spaced at least 6 feet apart, wear masks, do not share objects, and come from the same local area (e.g., community, town, city, or county).

• Higher risk: Medium-sized in-person gatherings that are adapted to allow individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and with attendees coming from outside the local area.

• Highest risk: Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html

Mark 12:30-31 NIV30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

COVID-19 United States Cases by CountyJohns Hopkins University

Last Updated on 2020-08-25

Demonstration of County by County

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/us-map

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

Are We Safe Yet?

Local Rate

Regional Rate

Statewide RateIT DEPENDS

Are We Safe Yet?

Local Church Re-Entry

Preparedness

Distance Traveled

Risk FactorsMAYBE

“These suggested practices have been developed from currentguidance provided by leading health organizations in thecountry. The guidance in this area changes frequently and thosereviewing this document should regularly consult with local healthdepartments, other health organizations and medical professionalsfor up to date guidance and recommended approaches to mitigaterisks of the spread of the coronavirus. Further, each congregationmust adhere to the rules and regulations which apply within thestate or locality in which they operate. No one set of practices fitevery congregation and, as such, each church should consider all ofthe factors in applying these practices in their own congregation. Noassurances can be given that following any list of practices orprotocols will prevent all spread of the coronavirus or any otherinfectious disease.”

• Are you regularly monitoring organizations such as the International Health Commission, CDC or WHO as well as their state and local public health entities for updates to their recommendations?

• Are you monitoring local and regional trends?• Have you assessed the risk level of your local church community?

• Has the individual risk profile of the congregation been obtained and accessed?

• Have you contacted your church insurance company for any instructions, training, certifications, and/or increases in liability required?

• Do you have a local congregation specific COVID-19 Response and Reopen Plan, including strategies to delay transmission of the virus?

• Do you have a plan if anyone tests positive? It should include contacting your local health department.

• Has training occurred and documented for all staff, volunteers and congregants?

• Is there a communication plan that has been tested?

• Have you completed deep cleaning the building(s)?• Continued cleaning:

• Have you set a cleaning schedule and maintain a record of all cleaning. to include but not limited to:

• Technology: microphones, headphones, computers, laptops, and other electronics?

• Different surfaces been considered: hard, soft, wood?• All areas of the buildings (including restrooms) that are not blocked off

• Have you obtained an adequate quantity of the necessary supplies?

• Have developed methods to ensure strict physical distancing, with a minimum of 6 ft., can be maintained?

• Have you obtained non-touch thermometers and an adequate supply of masks, hand sanitizer, hand soap, individual tissue packs, other PPE (gloves, face shields), etc.?

• Have you obtained bottle water and disabled uncleared water fountains?• Have you removed all Bibles, hymnals, prayer books, books, hardcopy

material, bulletins, laminated bulletins/materials routinely distributed, pens from pews and other public areas, and other written information?

• For churches with a bus/van, is there a transportation plan?

• Have you obtained and posted the appropriate Signage?• Have you identified the plan for entrance and exit as well as

after gathering dismissal? • Do you have a plan and system for recording of attendance and

seating maps?• Do you have a giving plan to include alternate means as well as

boxes/stations where people may drop their offerings? • Has the Stewardship and Finance Commission been trained

and obtained necessary supplies for safe counting?

• Music: Have you ensured that there will be no congregational or choir singing and made provisions for a small praise team or recorded music?

• Do you have a plan for children?• Do you have a plan for Food Banks, etc. and have food safety

recommendations be instituted?

• Have liturgy and ritual adaptions been planned and rehearsed? • Worship• Study: Church School, Bible Study• Communion

• Have pre-packaged communion cup/wafer kits been obtained?• Baptism• Funerals/Wakes• Anointing/those overcome by the Holy Spirit• Weddings and other Special Events• Fellowship Moments

ResourcesWorld Health Organization (WHO) Resources

• Overall • https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

• Country & Technical Guidance - Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)• https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance

• How to use the WHO mass gathering religious addendum risk assessment tool in the context of COVID-19 with Religious Addendum-2

• https://www.who.int/publications-detail/how-to-use-the-who-mass-gathering-religious-addendum-risk-assessment-tool-in-the-context-of-covid-19

• Consider using the “Decision tree for risk assessment tool for Religious Leaders and Faith-based Communities in the context of COVID-19”

• https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-2019-ncov-mg-decision-tree-religious.pdf?sfvrsn=f3433c0a_2&download=true

• Practical considerations and recommendations for Religious Leaders and Faith-based Communities in the context of COVID-19• https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/points-of-entry-and-mass-gatherings

• Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for the COVID-19 virus: interim guidance• https://www.who.int/publications-detail/water-sanitation-hygiene-and-waste-management-for-the-covid-19-virus-interim-guidance

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) travel advice https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/travel-advice

ResourcesCDC Resources

• CDC Guidance Documents• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/guidance-list.html?Sort=Date%3A%3Adesc&Page=6

• Public Health Communicators: Get Your Community Ready• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-communicators-get-your-community-ready.html

• Cleaning and Disinfection for Non-emergency Transport Vehicles• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/disinfecting-transport-vehicles.html

• COVID-19 and Cooling Centers• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/cooling-center.html

• Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

• Guidance for Building Water Systems• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/building-water-system.html

• Cleaning and Disinfection for Community Facilities• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/cleaning-disinfection.html

ResourcesCDC Resources• Interim Guidance for Administrators and Leaders of Community- and Faith-Based Organizations to Plan,

Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/guidance-community-faith-organizations.html

• Get Your Mass Gatherings or Large Community Events Ready• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html

• Planning Guidance and Checklists• https://www.cdc.gov/nonpharmaceutical-interventions/toolsresources/planning-guidance-checklists.html •

• Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Community and Faith-based Organizations• https://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/faithbased/

• Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html

• People Who Need to Take Extra Precautions• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/index.html

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/travelers/index.html

ResourcesOther Resources• EPA approved products for use against COVID-19

• https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

• Posters and Signage• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/print-

resources.html?Sort=Date%3A%3Adesc

• Check with your Church/Building Insurance Company• See your church insurance company website• Call/contact your church insurance company

• Is Congregational Singing Dangerous?• https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/congregational-singing-dangerous/

• How to clean microphones• https://churchtechtoday.com/2020/03/20/7-steps-to-a-clean-microphone/

Resources• Examples of rehearsal platforms for musicians/choirs

• These are only a few. There are many more. We are not endorsing any product or platform, but merely providing examples so that you can do your own research of these and more

• https://www.jamkazam.com/ • https://www.choirplayer.com/online-choir-rehearsal-platforms/• https://www.chorusconnection.com/

• How to disinfect wood• https://www.hunker.com/13420820/how-to-disinfect-wood-furniture• https://www.hunker.com/13418708/how-does-bleach-affect-wood

Resources• How to disinfect wood

• https://www.hunker.com/13420820/how-to-disinfect-wood-furniture• https://www.hunker.com/13418708/how-does-bleach-affect-wood

• Food Safety Practices• https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-

answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling• www.servsafe.com• https://www.servsafe.com/ServSafe-Food-Handler

• First aid protocols for an unresponsive person during COVID-19• https://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/first-aid-tips-and-

resources/first-aid-tips/first-aid-protocols-for-an-unresponsive-person-during-covid-19

Resources• What can a first aider do to help during the coronavirus

outbreak?• https://blog.redcrossfirstaidtraining.co.uk/what-can-i-do-as-a-first-aider-at-

work-or-in-public-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak• Resuscitation Council UK Statement on COVID-19 in relation to

CPR and resuscitation in first aid and community settings• https://www.resus.org.uk/media/statements/resuscitation-council-uk-

statements-on-covid-19-coronavirus-cpr-and-resuscitation/covid-community/• Life cycle of COVID-19 on surfaces

• https://www.webmd.com/lung/how-long-covid-19-lives-on-surfaces• https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973