The Living Church in a Time of Crisis (COVID-19)

• Volume of Air: Square footage and linear physical distance are not the only factors in determining capacity. Two churches could both have a 3000 sq. ft. floor plan, but vastly different volumes of air if church (a) has 10-foot ceiling while church (b) has a 30-foot ceiling. Greater air volume allows for dispersion of the virus and reduces probability of infection.
• Air Exchange: Exchanging air with outside air is very effective in reducing the amount of virus in a space. For most churches this will become increasingly difficult as temperatures drop—opening windows and doors between liturgies can facilitate air exchange.
• Nature of Activity: Speaking especially at high volume and singing shed more virus into the air. (Please see the note on singing below.)

All members of the assembly will wear a face covering.

• Eucharist MAY NOT be celebrated without the assembly wearing face coverings.
• The presider wears a face covering during the entrance procession, the distribution of Holy Communion, and the recessional. 
• Lectors will wear face coverings and may remove them to proclaim the word.
• The cantor should wear a face covering.
• All ministers along with the presider should wear masks/face coverings.

Six feet of distance between households is required.

As mentioned above, singing increases the shedding of virus. The exact degree is not known and continues to be studied, and we still do not know the potential for transmission from congregational singing. In general, music should be kept to a minimum with the acclamations (Gospel Acclamation, Holy, Memorial Acclamation, and Great Amen) receiving priority.

• Missalettes and Hymnals should be removed from the church.
  • A cantor and accompanist are recommended. Multiple vocalists are strongly discouraged.
  • The cantor should wear a face covering.
  • If sung, the responsorial psalm should be sung from the cantor’s stand.

During this time, Holy Communion will only be served in the hand.

• The faithful should extend their hands making as flat a surface as possible.
• After receiving the Host on the hand, communicants step to the side, lower her/his mask/face covering, and consume the Body of Christ.
• The Precious Blood will not be served.

Six feet of physical distancing should be observed by those queuing. Many parishes will need to find larger, well-ventilated locations as most Reconciliation Chapels are small and do not permit air exchange. Sanitization should occur between penitents.
 

Close contact means to be within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. 

* Individual exposures added together over a 24-hour period (e.g., three 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes). Data are limited, making it difficult to precisely define “close contact;” however, 15 cumulative minutes of exposure at a distance of 6 feet or less can be used as an operational definition for contact investigation. Factors to consider when defining close contact include proximity (closer distance likely increases exposure risk), the duration of exposure (longer exposure time likely increases exposure risk), whether the infected individual has symptoms (the period around onset of symptoms is associated with the highest levels of viral shedding), if the infected person was likely to generate respiratory aerosols (e.g., was coughing, singing, shouting), and other environmental factors (crowding, adequacy of ventilation, whether exposure was indoors or outdoors). Because the general public has not received training on proper selection and use of respiratory PPE, such as an N95, the determination of close contact should generally be made irrespective of whether the contact was wearing respiratory PPE. At this time, differential determination of close contact for those using fabric face coverings is not recommended.

Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others.

• People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department.

Isolation keeps someone who is infected with the virus away from others, even in their home.

• People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves those with whom they live, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department.

Contact tracing is the subsequent identification, monitoring, and support of a confirmed or probable case’s close contacts who have been exposed to, and possibly infected with, the virus. The infected patient’s identity is not discussed with contacts, even if asked.

Contact tracing helps protect you, your family, and your community by:

• Letting people know they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
• Helping people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 get tested.
• Asking people to self-isolate if they have COVID-19 or self-quarantine if they are a close contact.

It is likely that you need to be in direct close contact with someone with COVID-19 when they have symptoms, or during the 48 hours (two days) before they develop symptoms, to get infected. Close contact includes:

• Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19
• Caring for a sick person with COVID-19
• Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or longer
• Coming into direct contact with respiratory droplets from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed or sneezed on, kissing, sharing utensils).
• You are still considered a close contact, even if you were wearing a face mask, with the exception of healthcare and K-12 school settings.

You may not be called by a public health representative. You should quarantine and monitor your symptoms for 14 days after your last exposure. Quarantine means staying at home and not having contact with others, except if you need medical care. Do not go to school or work. Avoid public spaces, public activities and group gatherings. If possible, separate from others in your home by sleeping in a separate bedroom and maintaining a 6-foot distance.

If you do become ill, separate from others in your home to prevent them from being exposed. While in quarantine, you may spend time on your property or exercise outdoors, as long as you distance yourself from others during exercise and refrain from using public facilities such as water fountains and restrooms.

The Wyoming Department of Health recommends testing of close contacts twice during the quarantine period. The ideal timing for the first test is at four-to-five days after the initial exposure, and if the initial test is negative, again at day 11 or 12 of the 14-day quarantine period.

If you are sick, you must stay home until:
▪ Your fever has been gone for 72 hours (three full days) without using fever-reducing medicine, AND
▪ Your other symptoms have improved, AND
▪ At least ten days have passed since your symptoms first began.