The following guidelines come from our Covid-19 Task Force/Risk Management Committee, and are in response to creating a safe environment on the St. Peter’s Lutheran church campus.
Covid-19 Protocol
January 14, 2022
The Risk Management Committee consisting of representatives from church staff, council, the property committee, the medical community, and worship leadership will be abiding by the current guidelines by the CDC and PA Department of Health
Please stay home if you are not feeling well. Also, we are requiring mask wearing during preschool and Sunday morning ministries. During the omicron spike, we are also requesting that even vaccinated people wear masks in their small group ministries.
If you or your child tests positive for Covid:
Day 0 is your first day of symptoms or a positive viral test. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed or your test specimen was collected.[1]
- Persons who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 5 days. If after 5 days, the patient is asymptomatic or has resolving symptoms, their isolation period is over; however, they should still wear a mask around others until day 10.[2]
- Regardless of vaccination status, anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must:
- Isolate at home for 5 days.
- As much as possible, stay in a specific room away from other people and pets in the home and wear a mask around other people in the home.
If you or your child is exposed to someone with Covid:
Those with an exposure to COVID-19 and are NOT up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations (unvaccinated) or those without the booster shot:[1]
- Stay home and quarantine for at least 5 full days.
- Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home.
- Get tested-Even if you don’t develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- If you develop symptoms-Isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask around others.
If you are fully vaccinated and are exposed to someone with Covid:[1]
- You do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms.
- Get tested-Even if you don’t develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
- If you develop symptoms-Isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask around others.
- Wear a mask around other for 10 days
Preschool Parents:
Please let us know if your child tests positive or has been exposed to someone who is positive, especially if they are not vaccinated.
SS/Youth Group Parents:
Please let us know if your child has tested positive after being in Sunday school or youth group so we can let others know.
Adults:
Again, if you were in a small ministry group within 5 days of testing positive, please contact the church – we need to contact trace and make sure those who are unvaccinated are aware of the potential risk.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate this pandemic. Our main goal is the health and safety of all who enter our doors. Rest assured we continue to evaluate protocol on a daily basis.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at dottie.almoney@stpeterslutheran.org or call me at 717-569-9211
[1][1] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html
[2] https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Documents/HAN/2021-PAHAN615-12-30-UPD-Iso%20and%20Quar_GenPop1.pdf
Sources that are guiding our church leaders’ recommendations:
- Guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health
- CDC guidelines
- The local school districts’ risk management responses
- The Lower Susquehanna, ELCA Synod Office guidelines for worship and church activity
Page updated January 14, 2022