To Resume SUNDAY
Services
State’s New Guidelines
State Department of
Public Health,
in consultation with the County Department of Public Health
San
Bernardino County Board of Supervisors
Monday 25, 2020, 5:03 P.M. a News
Release was issued to the press –
San Bernardino County announced the
reopening of places of worship with new State-specified guidelines.
Under the new State guidance, issued this morning,
places of worship can hold religious services, including funerals, if
attendance is limited to 25 percent of a building's capacity, but no more than
100 attendees.
"This is a great first step for our residents of faith
who have refrained from gathering for more than two months," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman.
"The COVID-19 virus is still very present throughout our county. With
places of worship, dine-in restaurants, stores, and malls now suddenly open, it
is more important than ever that we practice physical distancing, wear face
coverings in public, and frequently wash our hands to protect ourselves and
those around us."
Monday morning, the State issued new guidance for religious
services and cultural ceremonies, https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-places-of-worship.pdf
that encourage organizations to continue online
services and activities, especially for the protection of those who are most at
risk from COVID-19, including older adults and people with specific medical
conditions.
To reopen for
religious services and funerals, places of worship must:
--Establish and implement a COVID-19 prevention plan for
every location, train staff on the plan, and regularly evaluate workplaces for
compliance.
--Train employees and volunteers on COVID-19, including how
to prevent it from spreading and which underlying health conditions may make
individuals more susceptible to contracting the virus.
--Implement cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
--Set physical distancing guidelines.
--Recommend that staff and guests wear cloth face coverings,
and screen staff for temperature and symptoms at the beginning of their shifts.
--Set parameters around or consider eliminating singing
and group recitations. These activities dramatically increase the risk
of COVID-19 transmission. For this reason, congregants engaging in singing,
particularly in the choir, and group recitation should wear face coverings at
all times and when possible, these activities should be conducted outside with
greater than 6-foot distancing.
Not adhering to all of the guidelines in their entirely could
result in the spread of illness and the re-closing of places of worship. In
21 days, the State Department of Public Health, in consultation with the County
Department of Public Health, will review and assess the impact of the religious
services guidelines and provide further direction as part of a phased-in
restoration of activities. This 21-day interval accounts for seven days for
religious communities to prepare and reopen in addition to a 14-day incubation
period of COVID-19.
Local information about COVID-19 can be found on the County's
COVID-19 website: http://sbcovid19.com