UUCB Covid-19 Guidelines 2-11-22
REOPENING UPDATE 2/11/22
The Covid Response Team met on 2/9/22 and developed the following updated guidelines:
Sanctuary Services
· For the foreseeable future, singing by members of the congregation (masked) will be allowed on Sunday mornings.
· Live musical performance by a single wind instrument and/or 2 unmasked singers at least 10 feet apart on the chancel, well away from any congregants, will be permitted.
· All congregants will wear masks and have their contact information recorded for contact tracing. Surgical masks are strongly recommended and will be provided.
· There will be no food/coffee after the service.
· Maximum capacity in the sanctuary will be 100, with 20 chairs provided in fellowship hall.
· Chairs with arms to be used only by people who need the support of arms.
Other Group Meetings
· Contact lists will be maintained for all group meetings.
· If a COVID case is traced to UUCB we will follow CDC procedures. Rev. Justine and Bill Clark will make ad hoc decision and follow up with a Task Force meeting for a “final” decision.
· Vaccinated UUCB congregants may meet in the building under the following conditions:
o There is no limit on the number of meetings that may be held in the church at a given time or on the number of groups that may meet on any given day.
o Seats will be spaced 6 feet apart (or family pods). All participants will be masked.
o The choir, wearing masks, may practice inside.
o Ministerial Search Committee meetings will be given priority for room use.
o Up to 15 people at a time may use the Merrymeeting Bay room.
o Meetings must be scheduled in advance, either through the Church Administrator or the Interim Minister in her absence. There will be no ad hoc spontaneous meetings.
o Group leaders will generate contact lists, which will be stored by the church administrator.
o With the exception of a previously approved agreement providing space for Thursday afternoon Hebrew school, non-UUCB groups will not be allowed to use the building.
Air Purifiers
2 air purifiers in the Merrymeeting Bay room should be on when the room is in use. 1 air purifier in the May Sarton room should be on when the room is in use.
Religious Exploration
OWL request to hold in-person program starting in March for Grades 4-6 on Tuesday evenings at 6:15pm was approved, with the following restrictions:
· All participants (children and leaders) must be fully vaccinated, as possible.
· All participants must wear masks at all times.
· All participants agree to report positive cases of covid among the group if they arise.
· There can be up to 15 people in the Merrymeeting Bay Room for the program.
Concerts
· The March 12th Concert for a Cause will take place as scheduled as long as all performers are fully vaccinated (including boosters). It is suggested that the first row of the audience seating be removed to increase distance between performers and audience.
· For attendees and for musicians, proof of vaccination or recent negative test and information for contact list will be required. Masks will be required except when musicians are playing/singing onstage.
· For CD/paraphernalia sales masks are required and crowding at sales table should be minimized.
· Food for musicians can be re-heated in Kitchen, but will be eaten on paper plates, using paper cups for liquids, disposable utensils, in MMB room, distancing.
UUCB Covid-19 Guidelines 1-19-22
Throughout the pandemic, UUCB has put safety first while also weighing the emotional cost of being apart from one another for so long. When we re-opened to in-person worship in September of 2021, we did so knowing that there might be occasions when we would need to close to in-person gathering, as we did on January 9th, 2022.
In one important area, we will be diverging from the recently-updated CDC guidelines, which say that those who are up to date with all Covid-19 vaccines do NOT have to quarantine if they have a close contact with someone who has symptoms or tests positive for Covid. At UUCB we are taking a more conservative approach. If you have a close contact with someone who has Covid or tests positive for Covid, please do not come to church unless you have a negative Covid test (2-5 days from the time of the exposure) or experience no symptoms for 5 days post exposure.
In addition to the steps we are asking everyone to take, our Music Director, RE Director, and Minister will all have regular Covid tests to bolster our confidence that they are not sources of potential Covid spread.
If you are feeling unwell or if you come into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19, please stay home, keep masking, and monitor yourself for symptoms. Testing is also recommended on Day 3 post exposure, but we are aware that tests are not as available as we would wish them to be. If you are fully vaccinated and remain symptom-free for 5 days post exposure, according to the latest CDC guidelines, you are considered safe to return to regular activities (continuing to follow safety guidelines).
The leaders of UUCB will continue to monitor the science and will make adjustments to our practices accordingly, but it bears repeating that we are all responsible for each other’s well-being. Thank you, everyone.
You can find the full CDC guidelines here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html
Here are definitions of some key terms.
Exposure
Contact with someone infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in a way that increases the likelihood of getting infected with the virus.
A Close contact is someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. For example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes.
Quarantine is a strategy used to prevent transmission of COVID-19 by keeping people who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 apart from others.
Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19. People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. At home, anyone sick or infected should separate from others, or wear a well-fitting mask when they need to be around others. People in isolation should stay in a specific “sick room” or area and use a separate bathroom if available. Everyone who has presumed or confirmed COVID-19 should stay home and isolate from other people for at least 5 full days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date of the day of the positive viral test for asymptomatic persons). They should wear a mask when around others at home and in public for an additional 5 days.
When to Stay Home
Calculating Quarantine
The date of your exposure is considered day 0. Day 1 is the first full day after your last contact with a person who has had COVID-19. Stay home and away from other people for at least 5 days. Learn why CDC updated guidance for the general public: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine-isolation-background.html
If you develop symptoms
· Isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask around others.
· If you test positive, take precautions until day 10
· Wear a mask*
Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.
· Avoid travel
· Avoid being around people who are at high risk
*Masks
The CDC has updated its guidance on masking and what types of masks are best for general (non-Medical) use. KN95 masks are considered best, but surgical type masks can be used, especially if combined with a cloth mask to seal any gaps. Single-layer cloth masks are not recommended.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html