By Dan Clawson and Melet Whinston

(Melet Whinston, MD, is a family practitioner, and worked with King County Public Health during the first couple years of the pandemic as Medical Director in the Department of Community and Human Services, advising the Behavioral Health Division on COVID.  Dan Clawson is the current President of the St. Andrew Board of Deacons, and has worked with the Outbreak Task Force on improving air quality at the church as a strategy to prevent the spread of COVID.)

The Outbreak Task Force, chaired by Teresa Platin, met via Zoom on Tuesday, May 10th to consider responses to the highly transmissible BA.2 Omicron variant.   It was decided to move from a “masks optional” policy to a “masks strongly encouraged” policy , and to develop changes in worship procedures to better protect worshippers during this surge.  Scott and Deacons will work collaboratively with vulnerable individuals to help them decide for themselves when it is advisable to attend services, and to assist all worshippers in effectively using face masks while at church.

Melet outlined the current facts that she finds very concerning.  In places where precautions have been lifted, in particular masks, COVID cases have surged.  High quality face masks, fitting properly and worn consistently and correctly, are very effective at preventing COVID transmission. Long COVID is emerging as a common condition with unknown and often serious consequences, even in young and healthy people.  The current variant is infecting fully vaccinated and double boosted persons, although the vaccines do reduce the severity of symptoms.  Guidance from the CDC and state and local agencies has often lagged behind the developing medical science.      

Scott pointed out the very real need for worshippers to connect with worship leaders and the difficulty that face masks cause.  Even the most vulnerable individuals have an emotional and spiritual need to be physically present at services to the extent it is reasonably safe.   He will be looking at possible changes in the positioning of worship leaders and seating to put more distance between unmasked speakers and congregants while masks are kept on while not speaking. 

Dan expressed serious concerns with the risks for older and/or disabled worshippers with underlying health conditions that make them much more vulnerable to COVID infection.  Some have shown obvious difficulty properly wearing masks during services, and might benefit from having helpers sit by them to assist. Deacons and others could meet those entering the building with masks, and assist worshippers in wearing them properly.  Possible involvement will be discussed at the monthly Deacons’ meeting this coming Sunday. 

He expects it could take some weeks to achieve a level of voluntary mask wearing that will effectively reduce potentially virus-carrying particles in the sanctuary and other areas to a reasonably safe level.  Until then, it may be advisable for some vulnerable individuals to participate in worship through the live stream, while the pastor and deacons reach out to them by phone or visits.  Whether to attend worship is a decision that each individual should make in consultation with their own health care providers.  Those who may be experiencing diminished mental capacity could need particular attention, possibly including consultation with their families and friends.

St. Andrew has applied for a free air quality evaluation provided by King County Health.  Dan  will be reporting back to the Task Force on that and the feasibility of HEPA air purifiers, germicidal ultraviolet light (“GUV”), and MERV-13 rated filters for the HVAC system.  The goal is to improve air quality to the point where masks are not necessary except for the most vulnerable.      

Since the beginning of the pandemic, safety and concern for all have been our paramount concerns.  Our church leadership and Outbreak Task Force have monitored and followed guidance from the CDC, the state of Washington, and King Country and updated procedures in accordance with the current state of the pandemic. We continue to do so.  
 
We meet to worship in person weekly. Regardless of vaccination status, we ask all attendees over the age of 2 to wash hands frequently and wear masks indoors. We've provided space for people to practice distancing and we regularly sanitize and clean our facility. We provide streaming of our Sunday morning worship service in real time for those who are not comfortable attending in person, or who have been exposed or are sick.   
 
We will continue to worship and gather together in accordance with King Country requirements. Updated information will be posted here and distributed to attendees on Sunday mornings and through weekly newsletters. 

It has been such a gift to find ourselves back together in person over these past 8 weeks. We are now announcing some additional changes to our safety practices. See below for a summary: 

If I’m vaccinated do I still need a mask?
No. On behalf of our Session, the Outbreak Task force has decided it is time to ease mask restrictions. 

The task force has been meeting regularly throughout the pandemic and we have factored in all we have learned over these past 18 or so months. We are aware that the coronavirus continues to pose a significant threat to the well-being of our community—both locally and even more so nationally and internationally. And currently the Delta variant presents a particular challenge.

At the same time, following current CDC and Washington State guidance, and having confidence in the high vaccination rates of our worshipping community in particular and in the effectiveness of the vaccines in preventing both serious infection and transmission of even the most communicable variants, we believe this is a reasonable move for the St. Andrew community. 

So what exactly does this mean?

Simply put, if you are fully vaccinated—that’s two weeks after your last shot—you are free to not wear a mask while you are indoors and outdoors on the church property, including during worship and other activities.  You may also have physical contact with others—handshaking or hugging—if they have told you they’re ok with that. 

What if I'm not ready to take off my mask?
Some of us will continue to wear masks and want to distance, even if we are fully vaccinated. And we want you to feel absolutely free to do so according to your best judgment. Indeed, we are hoping to create a culture of openness in which masks are always welcome and you are free from being self-conscious should you choose to wear them. Among the lessons we have been learning is that masks can be a great option for reducing transmission of those airborne cold and flu bugs that are common during some seasons of the year. Some among us will be masking up in solidarity with our younger members and with adults who have so far been unable to get vaccinated.

Will Sunday worship still be online?
Yes! From here on we will always provide a livestream option for worship that will also be recorded and linked for viewing. You can find the most current link on the homepage, and past links on our Worship in Absentia page.

What if I’m not feeling well?
We ask that you do not come if you are sick or if you have reason to think you have been exposed to the coronavirus. If you have a temperature or have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the last 72 hours, please stay home and join us online. 

What if I'm not fully vaccinated?
If you are not fully vaccinated, we are counting on you to continue to wear a mask for your own protection and for the protection of others who are more vulnerable. We will have masks available for people that need them. We will also continue to clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and provide hand sanitizer for those moments when you can’t easily wash hands with soap and water. And we will continue to adapt our practices to strike a reasonable balance to ensure good health and vibrant worship.
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Anything else?
As always, please feel every permission to limit your activities to those you personally feel are safe. And continue to seek awareness and attend to the comfort level of those around you. Consider it both a safety and spiritual practice.

Finally, we will continue to ask that when you come for worship you sign in and provide a contact phone number. In the event that we have reports of an infection, this will enable us to reach out and let you know.

As we return to worship this week, we surely have many questions. Whether you are preparing to return this Sunday, or not quite yet ready we want to ensure your questions are answered.

If I’m vaccinated or had COVID-19 do I still need a mask?
The CDC has indicated that if you are fully vaccinated—that’s two weeks after your last shot—it is very unlikely that you are in danger of either contracting a serious case of COVID-19 or passing it on. You’ll find that we will be wearing our masks for the comfort and safety of others in almost all circumstances. In addition, we’ll count on one another to keep to all those other safe practices we’ve learned over these past months.

What will I need?
Bring your mask! If you are not yet fully vaccinated, and are able to wear a mask, we are counting on you to wear it for the safety and well-being of yourself and others. If you’ve forgotten, don’t worry. We’ll have masks available. We’ll also count on you to sit with those who are a part of your bubble. And bring a jacket if it is cool. The windows may be open and we’ll encourage conversations to happen outdoors before and after worship.

Will Sunday worship still be online?
Yes! From here on we will always provide a livestream option for worship that will also be recorded and linked for viewing.

What if I’m not feeling well?
If you have a temperature or have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the last 72 hours, please stay home and join us online.

What if things change?
Our practices will always conform to the most conservative of CDC and Washington State guidance. If, for example, King County reverts to any level more restrictive than Phase 3 of the Healthy Washington Roadmap, we will suspend in-person worship and revert to the pre-recorded worship resources to which we have grown accustomed until those restrictions are lifted. Phase 3 is our baseline for in-person worship.
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What will our worship look like?
When you come, you’ll be invited into all the elements of worship. The fully vaccinated choir will sing masked. So will we. We will celebrate communion, but it will be adapted according to best health practices. We will limit our contact in the passing of the peace. In all of these cases, please feel every permission to limit your activities to those you personally feel are safe. And if you are one who feels more free to engage, please attend to the comfort of those around you. Consider it both a safety and spiritual practice.

As we make our way into the summer months, the administrative commission (a.k.a. Coronavirus Task Force) appointed by the St. Andrew Session thought you might appreciate an update. We continue to meet via Zoom on a weekly basis, and have found ourselves addressing high level questions, but also spending quite a bit of time in the “weeds” working out the specifics of how and when we can be together. From our perspective, here’s what’s happening around St. Andrew.

​We have set a goal to resume in-person worship on Sunday, August 2, 2020. We are very excited about the prospect of being physically together again, even though many will wisely choose to continue to limit their exposure. Stay tuned. This goal does has a number of preconditions that must first be met, among them are these:

1. King County must be in Phase 2 of reopening. You may already be familiar with the four phases of re-opening charted by Washington State. And, perhaps you saw the article in Tuesday’s Seattle Times noting King County’s application for phase 2. Assuming the application is successful, and infection trends don’t spike before August, we would be able to host worship for up to 50. We anticipate moving to a new live-stream model of worship that will incorporate best practices for religious communities per King County Guidelines for physically gathering while also offering a live-streamed option for joining us in worship remotely.
2. We need to ready the building. We owe a profound debt of gratitude to many who have continued to maintain the building and provide upgrades that will enable us to more safely be together physically. These include
   1. small things like installing covered toilet seats (thanks Dan Clawson!). That’s right! One way that the coronavirus can spread is via a plume of aerosols created by the flushing of toilets! So remember to close those lids prior to flushing! That’s only the half of it, though.
   2. We are installing fresh air intakes and fans to ensure air flow that will prevent the stagnation of aerosols that are a primary danger for transmission of the coronavirus. Thanks to Craig Johnson, Paul Mitchell, and the Golden Hammer & Saw Team for already volunteering to help.
   3. In addition to ventilation concerns, we’re also establishing mutual protocols for disinfecting after building use for all building users. We’ve developed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Manantial de Vida that will enable them to use the facility safely along with us. We anticipate MdV’s usage will happen in two stages. First using the building with a small group for live-streaming. Second, when county and state guidelines allow, using the building for assembled worship.

How you can help.

1. Technology upgrades: Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to purchase cameras and equipment that will enable live-streaming once we begin to gather in person. We could use a few partners with installation and technology knowledge to help us install and ready the equipment in the next few weeks. This will require being present on-site with a few others in controlled conditions. If you’re interested please contact Scott by Monday, June 25, 2020.
2. Other facility improvements: As outlined above, we have some projects to complete prior to August 2nd. If you want to add your name to the list of volunteers, please contact Teresa Platin (tplatin@outlook.com or 425-830-0971).
3. Masks: We understand masks will be essential for meeting in person. We are looking for a few volunteers to make masks we can have on supply for anyone who might attend without one. If you can help, please contact Andrea Shirey (ashirey@standrewpc.org).
4. And more: Watch other announcements for additional needs.

Even with all these preparations, and a myriad of others not mentioned, the way forward is unsure. When and how can we sing with one another again? Are outdoor meetings a viable option given all our considerations? What other ways can we be together? These are ongoing discussions for which your prayer and insight is appreciated.

We are, of course, planning for uncertainty, for a tightening of restrictions in the event of spikes in infection rates, and for changes in action and behavior based on information and wisdom we do not yet have. We are grateful for your patience, your partnership, your goodwill, your generosity and love, and your personal responsibility through it all.

It may be worth recalling the values named by the Session that we continue to hold and be guided by as we have worked together over these last months:

1. Being physically and emotionally connected.
2. Worshiping together regularly.
3. Predictability.
4. Stability.
5. Reasoned, fact-based responses.
6. Caution and care for the most vulnerable in our community and the broader community.
7. Sustainable practices that care for staff and volunteers.

Finally, I want to take a moment of privilege to offer my gratitude for the tenacious and attentive leadership of the Task Force (Teresa Platin, Andrea Shirey, co-chairs, Dan Clawson, Pattie Holt, Amber Oakes) and many others who have logged into our weekly meetings to help along the way with particular matters. This group has worked exhaustively to help us find our way through these uncertain times. We owe them and many others who have quietly added their own effort and skill to keep us together while we are apart, and to chart the way to our physical reunion.
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Grace & Peace,
Scott (for the Task Force)