Reopening Safety Measures
SAFETY MEASURES FOR REOPENING
As of: 06/26/2020
The following operating procedures are based on current federal, state, county and local orders and guidelines. These procedures are subject to change as orders are amended.
GENERAL OPERATIONS
Safety measure supervisors are administrative staff responsible for ensuring that these safety measures are implemented and that the staff they supervise are adequately trained to follow them.
Use of masks will be required for all adults entering the church that are medically able to do so. Masks are not required in areas where social distancing can be maintained. (ex. personal offices, restricted access spaces, etc.) Anyone who is unable or unwilling to wear a mask will be asked to leave.
Individuals exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will not be permitted in the building (see POTENTIAL EXPOSURE RESPONSE).
Hygiene stations are located at the 3 primary entrances to the church (NW Entrance, Elevator Entrance, and NE Entrance) and contain hand sanitizer, gloves, and masks.
Use of the church building by outside groups will be restricted.
Meeting spaces will have occupancy reduced by 50% and be set to facilitate social distancing between users.
Doors will be propped open when appropriate to reduce the number of touch points.
All kitchens in the church will be locked and use will be restricted to authorized users.
All non-worship visitors must check-in at the church office to help facilitate contact tracing.
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
Maintenance staff have received certification in post pandemic cleanup and disinfection.
Touch points and high traffic areas will be disinfected frequently throughout the day.
Maintenance staff are using enhanced cleaning techniques and new disinfection equipment. Disinfectants and cleaning methods are following CDC and LARA guidelines.
Unused areas of the church will be closed and locked to reduce the workload of custodial staff.
Unnecessary chairs, tables, sofas, etc. are removed and placed into storage to reduce the amount of daily disinfection.
STAFF
Upon arrival, all staff will complete a health self-screening which includes a temperature check.
Anyone that does not meet the screening criteria will not be permitted to stay and will be asked to self-quarantine (see POTENTIAL EXPOSURE RESPONSE).
Church staff will not share workspaces.
MINISTRY
Church groups and ministries that meet in the church are restricted to 10 or less attendees. They are encouraged to meet virtually instead of in-person whenever possible.
Church groups and ministries are asked to keep a record of attendance to each meeting or event to facilitate contact tracing in the event of an infection.
Wednesday Night Live! meals will continue to be distributed in to-go containers in the NW Entrance.
WORSHIP
There will be no child care during worship services.
Every other pew will be closed off to create more space between worshipers. If there are two services, the alternate pews will be blocked off so that the second service worshipers do not sit in the same pews. Individuals not residing in the same household are asked to maintain 6 feet of social distancing.
Ushers will wear gloves when distributing bulletins.
Hymnals and Bibles have been removed from the pews. Hymns and Bible passages will be printed in the bulletin. There will be no congregational singing.
No-contact forms of “passing of the peace” are encouraged (waving or bowing or hand on heart.)
The Sunday offering will be collected at sanctuary exits, however, worshipers are encouraged to give online.
Communion service is currently suspended. Once reinstated, communion will no longer be taken by intinction. Bread will be distributed by gloved clergy and elders. Juice will now be provided in individual cups placed on a table at the front of the Sanctuary.
Ushers will dismiss worshipers one pew at a time starting with the back of the sanctuary.
Fellowship time between services has been suspended.
POTENTIAL EXPOSURE RESPONSE
Potential exposure includes contact with someone with a positive test for COVID-19 or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 which include:
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
In the event that a staff member or preschool child develop symptoms of COVID-19, the individual will be relocated to the designated isolation room located in the Northwest Entrance until they are able to be transported to their home or healthcare provider.
Anyone attending to the symptomatic person is required to use enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) protection. This includes face mask with eye shield, gown, gloves, and hair cover.
If the individual tests positive for COVID-19, church administration will immediately contact the Ingham County Health Department to report the illness and for the latest response directive for our area.
If a staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19 and it is determined to be a workplace related illness according to MIOSHA regulations, the illness will be reported on Form 300 and 301A as required.
Spaces occupied by the individual will be closed for a minimum of 24 hours and will be disinfected prior to reopening.
Anyone that came into contact with the potentially infected individual (<6 feet for a prolonged period of time) in the past two days, will immediately be notified of exposure by phone and email. The potentially infected individual will remain anonymous.
Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms that were sent home, may return to work under the following conditions:
At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and,
At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.