Vaccination, positivity, hospitalization rates, masking: what does this mean for my community? How do I decide what to do for myself, my family, my community, my congregation? The uncertainty continues as new variants spread rapidly.
 
COVID in Your Community, a resource from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), provides a weekly summary of how counties are doing and can help you make informed choices. The good news is that vaccination levels are high in many communities. Vaccination is working to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death.
 
Here is what to do if you are in close contact* with someone who tests positive for COVID-19:
 
If you are up to date with vaccination:

• wear a mask when with others
• do not travel
• get tested on day five, if positive - isolate (See how to get your free test kits below)
• if negative continue to wear a mask when around others until day 10

If you are not vaccinated:

• stay home and quarantine for at least 5 full days
• do not travel
• wear a mask when around others in your home
• watch for symptoms for 10 days
• get tested if symptoms develop
• wear a mask around others outside of your home for a full 10 days

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated people who are exposed to an infected person must isolate immediately if symptoms develop and get tested.
 If someone tests positive within 48 hours of attending worship or a gathering, here is a sample message to send:

“Someone who attended … worship, or gathering, has tested positive for COVID-19. If you are vaccinated, please wear a mask when with others, get tested on day 5 and continue to wear a mask when around others until day 10. If you are not vaccinated, stay home and quarantine for at least 5 full days, do not travel, and wear a mask when around others in your home. Watch for symptoms and wear a mask around others outside of your home for the full 10 days. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated people who are exposed to an infected person must isolate immediately if symptoms develop and get tested.”
 
*Recommendations for COVID-19 Close Contacts   Close contact means less than 6 ft away from an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 min or more over a 24-hr. period.
 
Quarantine and Isolation Calculator to determine what you need to do when you are a close contact with an infected person.
 
CDC Guidance for Large and Small Gatherings
 
American Choral Directors Association provides a summary of Updated Guidance from the CDC (Mar. 15, 2022) regarding singing. The guidance recommends following current CDC mitigation strategies based on the level of transmission and hospitalization in your community.
 
Testing – If you ordered testing kits in January or February you can order a second set now. If you have not ordered a set yet, you can order two sets of four tests (a total of eight tests) from the links below. Also, check with your insurance company for free test kits. Many offer them by mail or have access with a local pharmacy, including the Insurance board.

• Order two sets of four free test kits per household at:
  • https://www.covidtests.gov/
  • https://special.usps.com/testkits
  • 1-800-232-0233