The new Delta variant of the coronavirus has caused the situation in the world to change. The spread of the virus and the risk to everyone is now much higher than it was a month ago, and even in Buncombe County the rate of spreading it has doubled in two weeks, with over 50 new cases per day. The church’s Health & Safety Team met to discuss the situation as it is now, and figure out what is needed to keep everyone safe when they are at church.
The Buncombe County Public Health Director said the virus is now “exponentially more contagious,” and because of that, the Health Department recommends everyone wear masks during indoor events, regardless of vaccination. Last week our county was in what the CDC describes as “a Substantial level of transmission” but has gotten even worse since then and is now at a “High level of transmission.” (Check transmission risk levels here.) The CDC recommends “that fully vaccinated people wear a mask in public indoor settings if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission,” which unfortunately includes us.
The following rules will be in effect through August, during this time of high transmission risk. At the end of the month, the Health & Safety Team will meet again and consider what the situation is then as things change.
We’re pausing Sunday School for now. So classes will not meet before worship on Sundays. And there will not be a coffee & snack time beforehand.
Please practice good social distancing, especially when sitting or talking inside.
Everyone must wear a mask inside the church while attending a worship service, event, or group meeting, regardless of vaccination.
There will not be the fellowship dinner time on Wednesdays before Bible Study for now.
Hopefully these temporary guidelines will not be necessary for too long. We hope that the situation and risk will soon start to change for the better, as more people get vaccinated. Thank you for understanding and for helping keep everyone safe.