Dear Friends,

As you well know by now, there have been incidences of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York City, where many of our congregants work or visit regularly. We, like other institutions across the country, are talking about precautions and considering what options we will have should it become necessary for folks to stay home, rather than attend on Sunday mornings. We are emailing today to let you know that we are paying attention to the situation and are committed to doing everything we can to keep our community as safe as possible.

Of course we are most concerned about the vulnerable among us: immunocompromised people and people with chronic illnesses are more susceptible to infection while seniors are more likely to experience severe cases if infected. Together, we can help to ensure that the risk remains low for all of us.

Per recommendations from Governmental health institutions and common sense:
  • Please stay home if you are feeling unwell. A fever, cough or sneezing, even if it feels mild and you are quite certain it is not Coronavirus, please stay home until you feel well
  • If you have recently traveled to a high risk country (check the government list frequently as it is ever-expanding) or a high risk state, please stay home until you are sure you are well
  • Get your flu shot if you have not already; though it won't protect from the current virus, it will reduce incidents of the flu which has similar symptoms
  • Do not cough or sneeze into your hands as this will transmit the virus more rapidly. Instead, cough and sneeze into a tissue or sleeve
  • Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
  • WASH YOUR HANDS: every time you enter a space or have touched common surfaces, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; more than anything this small measure will help reduce the spread
  • Please know that we take your health seriously. While we encourage you to do all of the above, we will also be taking steps here at USR:
  • We will provide hand sanitizer in every RE classroom as well as in the vestibule of Anderson and in Fellowship Hall; don't hesitate to use it!
  • Staff and clergy will suspend, for the time being, handshaking and hugging, and we ask you to do the same; fist or elbow bumps will have to suffice for now
  • The Safe Congregation Response Team and minister will be developing a response plan should an outbreak occur in our area
  • We will continue to plan for the unlikely step of having to stay closed on Sunday mornings; we are working on ways to ensure that community and service can continue even if we cannot be in each other's presence

For more information, please visit cdc.gov or who.int.

Please take every measure to keep yourself safe. If you have concerns or are feeling anxious, as always reach out to Rev. Sarah or the pastoral associates and caring committee.

Be well, 
Carol Loscalzo, Chair of the Safe Congregation Response Team
Rev. Sarah Lenzi, Minister