Taskforce Comments
Sligo’s Re-opening Taskforce is committed to making each service a rich personal and corporate experience, while heeding the larger scope of wisdom and guidance regarding in-person gatherings. We have developed a phased plan to reopen the church building and church office based on the best available information. This plan prioritizes love and care of one another by keeping people safe, shows proper respect for our government officials, follows the science on COVID-19 and demonstrates that we trust our church family to make wise decisions.
Deciding how to move through the phases is rather complex. We will continue to monitor the situation and, working in conjunction with our state and county authorities, will endeavor to ensure a safe and sustainable return to in-person gathering.
Best Practices for Health and Safety
- Medical professionals: We will work with medical professionals to develop best practices related to the health of those attending in-person worship and will provide oversight and ensure we are adhering to basic health protocols.
- General guidance: Each person has a responsibility to look out for the welfare of others. Per the CDC, symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • Fever
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
- Temperature checks: Temperatures will be monitored and checked upon entry.
• Appropriate social distancing: As 6 feet is the standard for appropriate social distancing, we utilize that standard in calculating the distance between individuals/ family units in pews, worship leaders, and all volunteers and staff.
• Provide COVID-19 protection: Hand sanitizing stations have been installed throughout the building and at exits and entrances. Masks are available upon request.
• Discourage personal contact: We will discontinue fellowship times in worship services and discourage hand-shaking and hugging, while maintaining social distancing.
• Cleaning: We will implement cleaning protocols in order to reduce the spread of the virus in our buildings and reassure congregants of our concern for their health.
• CDC Guidelines: We will follow specific CDC guidance for childcare or educational programming for children and youth, as well as encouraging those with underlying health conditions to avoid in-person gatherings.