Many of you have heard that our Ontario Government issued a statement that places of worship will be permitted to seat up to 30% of capacity starting June 12. This part of the Stage 2 plan to re-open is not to be considered a green light in the wake of the ongoing pandemic. Organizing safety procedures, honouring physical distancing, NOT singing, etc. will take time. Protecting each other and being safe while daily we hear of new cases of Covid is vitally important.
Both Winchester and Hope Spring’s Councils have held Zoom meetings and the decision has been made to continue online worship. Please note that the services are also available on USB sticks for those with flat screen televisions that can support this technology.
Further, our Region Council met today, June 11th, and made the following motion was carried:
“A formal EOORC Executive response to opening churches as a result of the recent announcement from the Ontario government will be coming out tomorrow. I've been asked to share this motion (see below) with you today. Please send questions or comments to Whit Strong (wstrong@united-church.ca)
2020-06-11_068 MOTION (L Stronski/L. Suddaby) that the Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council Executive;
a) strongly recommend that no churches reopen for public worship before Labour Day weekend;
b) expects that every Community of Faith prepare guidelines for reopening and submit their plan to the Regional Council (wstrong@united-church.ca), two weeks prior to their proposed opening date;
c) agrees to post and circulate the information and resources pertaining to safely reopening Communities of Faith;
d) strongly encourage Communities of faith to be in touch with their local health units;
e) expects that every Community of Faith create a separate plan with guidelines for reopening building to rentals and community activities or Community groups; and
f) Continue to provide information, as developments require.”
We will continue to update you in the weeks to come and hope to perhaps visit [honouring physical distancing] in the near future.
Stay well and know that you are not alone
Christine, on behalf of the Pastoral Charge Council
Both Winchester and Hope Spring’s Councils have held Zoom meetings and the decision has been made to continue online worship. Please note that the services are also available on USB sticks for those with flat screen televisions that can support this technology.
Further, our Region Council met today, June 11th, and made the following motion was carried:
“A formal EOORC Executive response to opening churches as a result of the recent announcement from the Ontario government will be coming out tomorrow. I've been asked to share this motion (see below) with you today. Please send questions or comments to Whit Strong (wstrong@united-church.ca)
2020-06-11_068 MOTION (L Stronski/L. Suddaby) that the Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council Executive;
a) strongly recommend that no churches reopen for public worship before Labour Day weekend;
b) expects that every Community of Faith prepare guidelines for reopening and submit their plan to the Regional Council (wstrong@united-church.ca), two weeks prior to their proposed opening date;
c) agrees to post and circulate the information and resources pertaining to safely reopening Communities of Faith;
d) strongly encourage Communities of faith to be in touch with their local health units;
e) expects that every Community of Faith create a separate plan with guidelines for reopening building to rentals and community activities or Community groups; and
f) Continue to provide information, as developments require.”
We will continue to update you in the weeks to come and hope to perhaps visit [honouring physical distancing] in the near future.
Stay well and know that you are not alone
Christine, on behalf of the Pastoral Charge Council
Churches ranked 8 out of 10 for risk by experts
Four Michigan public health experts assess the risk various activities pose to spreading coronavirus. Dr. Matthew Sims, Beaumont Health director of infectious disease research, Dr. Dennis Cunningham, McLaren Health Care medical director for infection prevention, Dr. Mimi Emig, retired infectious disease specialist with Spectrum Health, Dr. Nasir Husain, Henry Ford Macomb medical director for infection prevention.
The list, below, assigns a score for activities from 1 to 10, with a 10 being the riskiest and a 1 being the least risky. The score is an average of scores given by the health experts, rounded to the nearest whole number.
Four Michigan public health experts assess the risk various activities pose to spreading coronavirus. Dr. Matthew Sims, Beaumont Health director of infectious disease research, Dr. Dennis Cunningham, McLaren Health Care medical director for infection prevention, Dr. Mimi Emig, retired infectious disease specialist with Spectrum Health, Dr. Nasir Husain, Henry Ford Macomb medical director for infection prevention.
The list, below, assigns a score for activities from 1 to 10, with a 10 being the riskiest and a 1 being the least risky. The score is an average of scores given by the health experts, rounded to the nearest whole number.
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