To: Parochial Clergy, Non-Parochial Clergy

From: The Deans

Re: COVID in the Congregation

Date: December 21, 2021

With news of the Omicron Variant and Christmas services nearing, we know that there may be some anxiety rising. The good news is that we have done an excellent job following recommendations of public health officials and over time we have come to know how best to care for our congregations. We can do this.

 

We know that the cold weather and holiday travel has led to rising cases in the past, and so it is wise for us to be ready to face this reality. It also seems more clear that the Omicron variant is proving to be more transmissible. That makes this a very good time to review our COVID policies and make plans for how to address where we are now.

 

Some congregations may find themselves affirmed in their choices, some may want to tighten up their restrictions. We are in a very different place than we were last Advent – most eligible members are vaccinated and even boosted. Our best defenses against COVID are masks, ventilation, vaccination, and testing as needed.

 

Even with these precautions, it is clear that there will be times in the upcoming months when parishioners will test positive for Covid-19. Below are some reminders of what we can do to let people know about the possible exposure. We’ve also included some sample language for emails and communications below.

 

 

First of all, take some time to talk to the person

●    Attend to the pastoral needs of your member. Getting sick is not a moral failing! We can do everything right and still get sick.

●    Ask if your parishioner has been fully vaccinated (and has the booster).

●    Try to determine with the parishioner if anyone at your church might have been a close contact (see below.)

●    Ask if they are comfortable sharing their name when you share the news that a member has COVID. Remind them that this will allow people to pray for them as well as help other parishioners make good decisions about their level of exposure.

 

●    Contact your parish, sharing that a member needs prayer, and also parishioners may have been exposed if they were at worship or at the event or meeting.

●    If the person with the positive diagnosis was at a meeting or gathering with a small number of people (such as an in-person vestry meeting), consider setting up a quick phone tree to contact people quickly. This can be as simple as listing the people who were at the meeting and asking them to call two more people until the whole group is covered.

●    Remind people of the Massachusetts Department of Health definition of “close contact” and the guidelines for both those who are vaccinated and those who are not. Encourage parishioners to reach out to their doctor with any additional questions.

Close Contact: a person who has been less than 6 feet away from an infected person (confirmed diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 48 hour period. *Note this definition differs in a K-12 school setting ONLY.

 If a Close Contact is Vaccinated:

Quarantine is to stay at home for 14 days after last contact with a person with COVID. During which time, one monitors for symptoms, and limits exposure to vulnerable household members.

■    Fever or chills

■    Cough

■    Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

■    Fatigue

■    Muscle or body aches

■    Headache

■    New loss of taste or smell

■    Sore throat

■    Congestion or runny nose

■    Nausea or vomiting

■    Diarrhea

This is also the time for us to get our plans together for when/if one of us becomes ill. We will be reaching out to you all soon so that we can make sure that we have a solid plan in each of our deaneries. Remember, COVID is an illness, not a moral failing.

Yours in Christ,

The Reverend Aileen DiBenedetto, Dean, Worcester

The Reverend Nancy Webb Stroud, Dean, Hampden

The Reverend Michael Tuck, Dean, Berkshires

The Reverend Tanya R. Wallace, Dean, Franklin & Hampshire

Dear Friends in Christ,

I am writing to let you know that Jane Smith has been diagnosed positive for covid-19. First of all, I ask your prayers for a speedy recovery for Jane. (Despite being fully vaccinated (with her booster), unfortunately she still got sick.)

Based on the timing, it is likely that Jane was positive at the (Sunday service/vestry meeting/book group/etc.). If you were close to Jane, you might want to consider yourself a ‘close contact’. ‘Close contact’ is defined by the Massachusetts Department of Health as ‘a person who has been less than 6 feet away from an infected person (confirmed diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period.’ (With our protocols and physical distancing requirements at church, it is possible that most of you do not even qualify as a ‘close contact’.)

However, if you think this applies to you, you should quarantine if you are unvaccinated.

If you have been vaccinated, you should wear a mask indoors for 14 days or until you receive a negative COVID-19 test. You should also get tested 5-7 days after exposure. If you begin to experience any Covid-19 symptoms, you should get tested and isolate immediately.

For more information about exposure, close contact, and what to do with a positive diagonsis, please see the following page at the Massachusetts Department of Health.

Again, let us pray for Jane (and her family). Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Yours in Christ,