Covid-19 Information

8/4/2021 COVID-19 Recommendation Update:

On July 27th, the CDC offered new guidelines on masking for vaccinated people. The recommendation is that vaccinated persons should return to wearing masks indoors if you are in an area where there is substantial or high transmission of COVID. We have pasted the recommendation below in this message.

To check what the transmission rate is for your county, we have pasted below links to the CDC map for Covid transmission rates, and the Mayo Clinic map for Covid transmission rates. On the CDC map, you need to select PA and your county. On the Mayo Clinic map, you can see a 14 day forecast of what transmission rates will do moving forward.

As we have done throughout this time of COVID, I am recommending following the guidelines from the CDC and PA Dept of Health. If you are in a county that has Substantial or High risk of transmission, I am recommending vaccinated individuals return to wearing masks for indoor activities. This would include meetings and worship.

As of today, Somerset and Clearfield counties are the only counties in our Synod where there is ‘Substantial’ risk of spread according to the CDC.

Masking for indoor activities has been the only recommendation we have received to date.

I know that you are tired. I know that we all wished we were beyond this. I know that many of you are vaccinated and thought that meant that all of this was behind us. But wearing masks at this time is about protecting those around us. Thankfully, vaccinated persons have so far not been affected terribly by the virus, but this Delta variant is very contagious and vaccinated persons can still transmit the disease to the unvaccinated. Our returning to masking in areas of Substantial and High spread is about protecting those who can’t or won’t get vaccinated.

Also, following these recommendations from the CDC can help us prevent having another outbreak and having to return to another shut down.

Thank you for all you are doing to care for each other and to take those steps to keep each other safe.

God bless

Bishop Michael

Links:

July 27th Recommendation from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html

CDC County View Map – you will need to select for Pennsylvania

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

Mayo-Clinic Coronavirus tracking map, with 14 day forecast

Pennsylvania Coronavirus Map: Tracking the Trends - Mayo Clinic

OFFICE REOPENING ... A Message from the Synod Staff

Friends,

The Allegheny Synod Office will reopen on June 22 with regular hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Staff will be in the office Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (22, 23, 24) during regular business hours and working remotely on Thursday and Friday (25, 26). We will see people on an appointment-only basis for the time being. If you need to come to the office, please call ahead to make an appointment. We respectfully request that when you come to the office, you wear a mask and practice social distancing. If you serve on a committee that is meeting in the Synod Office, we ask the same—masks and distancing. If there is not enough room in the conference room for distancing, please make arrangements for a Zoom meeting or a larger space off-site in which distancing can occur.

As always, the staff is available via e-mail:

Bishop Rhyne: bishopmichael@alleghenysynod.com

Michelle Bossler: michelle.bossler@alleghenysynod.com

We will post our in-office time for the week of June 29 by June 25.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work toward safely returning to the office and hosting you.

Peace be with you+

The Allegheny Synod Staff

ELCA Resource page

https://www.elca.org/publichealth?_ga=2.98241311.1427250530.1591730680-1289467191.1591730680

PA Government Reopening page

https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/

PA Government news brief on reopening

https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-issues-updated-green-phase-order-guidance-on-dining-and-professional-sports/

CDC Community page

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html

Guidelines for GREEN PHASE from Governor Wolf

Work & Congregate Setting Restrictions

Continued Telework Strongly Encouraged
Businesses with In-Person Operations Must Follow Updated Business and Building Safety Requirements
All Businesses Operating at 50% Occupancy in the Yellow Phase May Increase to 75% Occupancy
Child Care May Open Complying with Guidance
Congregate Care Restrictions in Place
Prison and Hospital Restrictions Determined by Individual Facilities
Schools Subject to CDC and Commonwealth Guidance

Social Restrictions

Large Gatherings of More Than 250 Prohibited
Restaurants and Bars Open at 50% Occupancy
Personal Care Services (including hair salons and barbershops) Open at 50% Occupancy and by Appointment Only
Indoor Recreation, Health and Wellness Facilities, and Personal Care Services (such as gyms and spas) Open at 50% Occupancy with Appointments Strongly Encouraged
All Entertainment (such as casinos, theaters, and shopping malls) Open at 50% Occupancy
Construction Activity May Return to Full Capacity with Continued Implementation of Protocols

All businesses must follow CDC and DOH guidance for social distancing and cleaning
Monitor public health indicators, adjust orders and restrictions as necessary

These documents and links have helpful suggestions for re-opening to consider:

Resuming Care-filled worship and Sacramental life

Spectrum tool for reopening churches

Activities risk level article

CDC article on getting your household ready

CDC article for faith-based organizations

PA Council of Churches resources

https://www.pachurches.org/a-pastoral-statement-at-a-time-of-global-pandemic/

https://www.pachurchesadvocacy.org/pa-dept-of-ag-covid-19-resources/

https://www.pachurchesadvocacy.org/federal-covid-19-resources/

https://www.pachurchesadvocacy.org/volunteer-during-covid-19/

https://www.pachurchesadvocacy.org/love-comfort-resources/