Who Should Stay Home?

If you have been in contact with infected persons or have experienced symptoms that may be COVID-19 related, or are medically vulnerable due to underlying health issues, please stay safely at home and continue to worship online. These include:

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Chills

• Muscle pain

• Headache

• Sore throat

• Loss of taste or smell

• Intestinal issues

• Fever 100.0 degrees or higher

• Known close contact with a person who is confirmed to have COVID-19

 

What happens if I show up at in-person worship and I exhibit one of the above symptoms of COVID-19?

All congregants will be screened for symptoms before entering the sanctuary with the following questions:

• Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?

• Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath or sore throat?

• Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?

• Have you experienced new loss of taste or smell?

• Have you experienced vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours?

 

Each congregant’s temperature will be taken onsite with a no-touch thermometer upon arrival.

 

Minimum practice: People take their own temperatures before arriving. Normal temperature should not exceed 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

We will direct any congregant who exhibits COVID-19 symptoms (answers yes to any of the screening questions or who is running a fever) to leave the premises immediately and seek medical care or COVID-19 testing or both.

We will immediately close off area and immediately clean and disinfect area.

 

How will we make sure people are not sitting too close to one another?

We will utilize the CDC recommendation of 6’feet per person separation guideline both side-to-side as well as front to back. Pews will be clearly marked indicating where people can sit and the space that is “unavailable,” just as stores are trying to do with placards / stickers indicating where to stand. Family units can sit together.

 

Where do I enter?

We will also limit access into and out of the building to the front doors for the sanctuary. Doors will be clearly marked.

 

Should I wear a mask?

Information from CDC on cloth face coverings indicates wearing a mask reduces the potential for transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Masks will be required. We will have masks available for those that desire to wear one but do not have one with them.

 

Will the bathrooms be open?

Yes. We ask that members use disinfected spray between uses. Please spray all handles and surfaces with disinfectant between uses. And, of course, signage reminding folks to wash their hands will be posted in the bathrooms.

 

How will the offering be received?

Offering plates will not be passed between congregants. Congregants will come around the offering table and leave their tithes and offerings. Ushers will instruct congregants on the process.

 

What about Communion?

We will continue to use the prepackaged communion elements. They will be in a zip lock bag and members can collect their communion elements as they enter or come around the alter on communion Sundays to get their elements.  Congregants will only remove masks for partaking the elements.

 

Your Cooperation Is Appreciated

We will continue to follow the guidance of the state of Georgia, the CDC, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and we will always err on the side of safety and caution when faced with multiple guidelines. We have developed this plan due to the downward trend of the positive COVID cases in the Tifton Community and out of the abundance of caution for our membership and our community. We appreciate your support as we begin to reopen for worship service.