A Message from the Coronavirus Task Force
June 8, 2022
Westminster’s Coronavirus Task Force continues to meet on an as-needed basis, and did so again this week in response to the CDC’s recent designation of Sangamon County as having a High Level of community involvement. This is an increase from Medium and is due to the increased levels of new cases in the community, but perhaps more importantly, increasing numbers of hospitalizations and health resource utilization. Please recognize that cases, hospitalizations, and deaths all are at significantly lower levels than during the Omicron surge in December 2021 and January 2022.
Westminster’s Coronavirus Task Force continues to meet on an as-needed basis, and did so again this week in response to the CDC’s recent designation of Sangamon County as having a High Level of community involvement. This is an increase from Medium and is due to the increased levels of new cases in the community, but perhaps more importantly, increasing numbers of hospitalizations and health resource utilization. Please recognize that cases, hospitalizations, and deaths all are at significantly lower levels than during the Omicron surge in December 2021 and January 2022.
Please also note that current numbers of cases are significantly underreported as more people are using at-home tests. The extent of this discrepancy is unknown.
By reporting our county as having a High Level, the CDC essentially suggests that all people wear masks in indoor public spaces, independent of vaccination/booster status. This of course, applies to our sanctuary. The CDC’s suggestion is not binding, however, and no government entity has issued any mandate of any type, specifically no mask mandates from our governor or mayor.
The task force therefore agrees that our current recommendations remain in place. Specifically:
The Coronavirus Task Force will continue to meet on an as-needed basis. In the meantime, the task force continues to recommend the following:
Questions and comments may be directed to the task force at WPCCoronavirus@gmail.com.
Be safe and be healthy!
By reporting our county as having a High Level, the CDC essentially suggests that all people wear masks in indoor public spaces, independent of vaccination/booster status. This of course, applies to our sanctuary. The CDC’s suggestion is not binding, however, and no government entity has issued any mandate of any type, specifically no mask mandates from our governor or mayor.
The task force therefore agrees that our current recommendations remain in place. Specifically:
- The church will not mandate the wearing of masks in our sanctuary.
- Individuals, however, should remain vigilant of the current conditions in our community and determine their own level of comfort for social distancing, including the wearing of masks. Our hope is that individuals will take into consideration the CDC’s most current recommendations as they make their personal decisions.
- The task force strongly recommends that those who are at high risk for severe disease or are immunocompromised wear a protective mask (a least a KN-95) while indoors. They may enjoy the church services online, especially during times we are at High Level.
- Masks will be welcome and those who decide to wear one should feel comfortable doing so.
- Masks will continue to be worn in the nursery and at the church’s preschool, as these children are not yet eligible for vaccination.
- The choir will continue to sing their weekly anthem without masks. This is acceptable because of the vaccination status of the choir members and the congregation, as well as the distance between them.
- The congregation will continue to sing hymns and recite passages. This has been our practice throughout this current surge, and we are not aware of any transmission during a church service. One of the reasons we can do this is the high level of vaccination and booster use among our congregation members.
- We support the CDC’s recommendation to stay up to date with vaccinations and boosters, get tested if you have symptoms, and to notify your health care provider if you test positive. People with symptoms, a positive test, or known exposure should wear a mask.
The Coronavirus Task Force will continue to meet on an as-needed basis. In the meantime, the task force continues to recommend the following:
- Get vaccinated and boosted. Vaccinations are proven to decrease the severity of an infection, decreasing both hospitalizations and deaths. Boosters are necessary to combat new variants.
- Practice safe social distancing when needed, especially if you are at high risk.
- Wash your hands. Keep a small container of hand sanitizer in your pocket or purse and another in your car. And use them.
- Choose your activities wisely. If you are at high risk for a severe clinical course, consider options that make your activity safer, including staying home if necessary. Wear a mask when appropriate.
- Purchase at-home testing kits and use them if you come down with symptoms or are knowingly exposed. There are also multiple public testing options available.
- If you catch the virus, make sure your health care provider is aware and follow their guidance. Therapy options are changing rapidly, including new oral medications and monoclonal antibody treatments for more advanced or high-risk cases. Follow appropriate quarantine and isolation guidelines. Full recommendations from the CDC can be found here.
Questions and comments may be directed to the task force at WPCCoronavirus@gmail.com.
Be safe and be healthy!
Ellen Carpenter, RN
Virginia Dolan, MD
Peter Kieffer, MD
Todd Knox, MD
Michael Nenaber, MD
Marilyn Rigney, RN
Cara Vasconcelles, MD
Virginia Dolan, MD
Peter Kieffer, MD
Todd Knox, MD
Michael Nenaber, MD
Marilyn Rigney, RN
Cara Vasconcelles, MD
Westminster Coronavirus Task Force Report History
The Coronavirus Task Force will no longer meet regularly or submit weekly reports for publication. We will continue to monitor the situation in both our church community and our larger community and will be available for consultation should the need arise.
Our first report was on March 30, 2020. We published reports for 63 consecutive weeks, during stressful times of high numbers and calmer times of relatively low numbers. We appreciate the support of the congregation and the staff and commend both our church leaders and members of our church family who have made decisions along the way that have allowed us to safely navigate through the pandemic and now regather safely. The Task Force now publishes reports on an as-needed basis.
The Coronavirus Task Force will no longer meet regularly or submit weekly reports for publication. We will continue to monitor the situation in both our church community and our larger community and will be available for consultation should the need arise.
Our first report was on March 30, 2020. We published reports for 63 consecutive weeks, during stressful times of high numbers and calmer times of relatively low numbers. We appreciate the support of the congregation and the staff and commend both our church leaders and members of our church family who have made decisions along the way that have allowed us to safely navigate through the pandemic and now regather safely. The Task Force now publishes reports on an as-needed basis.