It's been a busy week since we sent out a blog (below) on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). In that time we have received a lot of resources and guidance. We’ve seen the impact on the stock market as fears spread along with new cases.  And while we know that like the annual flu, 80% of the cases are mild, we also know that some cases result in hospitalizations and we have seen the reports of deaths. And, like the flu, we know that a person can be contagious before symptoms appear.  And with all of this we know that our biggest resource is good information.  A number of new resources have emerged this past week and we have been collecting them for your use on a new Coronavirus Page on our Disaster Resources website.

Among those is a Pandemic Preparations Checklist  for church preparation we developed. You’ll also find some guidance for churches from both our national UCC staff and from other sources, and links to the latest updates from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

Again, as we said last week, we encourage our church leadership to get the information they need, plan for precautions around worship and community gatherings, be attentive to the most vulnerable within your congregation and community, and connect with your community response resources and plans.  Stay alert. 
 
For your Disaster Resource and Response Team, Don Remick
 

Church and Coronavirus - Feb. 26, 2020

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been a daily headline this winter.  And the Center for Disease Control is increasing their concern level.  We’ve seen the impact on everything from travel to the stock market.  And we wonder about what we need to do for our churches and communities.  Contagious illness carries with it a variety of concerns.  From Bird Flu to Ebola to Flu season to Coronavirus, we have been alerted to dangers around us over the past several years.  And we have learned some lessons. 

In the past your Disaster Resource and Response Team has offered some information regarding the spread of contagious illnesses. You can find an article related to the flu with some helpful advice here: https://www.sneucc.org/blogdetail/93155 along with some general disaster related resources on our website.

A number of other resources have been gathered here.

In times like these as illness spreads it is easy to be overwhelmed with fear and misinformation.  Our greatest resource is to engage with proper information and thoughtful preparation.   

We encourage our church leadership to get the information they need, plan for precautions around worship and community gatherings, be attentive to the most vulnerable within your congregation and community, and connect with your community response resources and plans.  Stay alert. 

For your Disaster Resource and Response Team, Don Remick