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Safety Protocols

Due to the current surge of the highly-contagious Omicron variant, we are following these protocols in our in-person worship service, for the protection of each other and our community:
  • Masks must be worn properly at all times, covering both the nose and mouth.
  • The Worship Service has no congregational responses or choral/congregational singing.
  • Visitation or conversation before or after the service is only permitted outdoors, not in the Sanctuary.
  • Just 2 from the same household may sit at green ribbons and 1 at white ribbons for 6' social distancing.
  • During the Postlude, ushers will dismiss worshipers, pew-by-pew starting from the rear, to go directly outdoors for fellowship. Do not remain in the Sanctuary or Narthex.

If you or someone close to you have cold or flu symptoms, even mild ones, please do not come to church, avoid close contact with others, and get tested. Our small group classes are being held in the Fellowship Hall with social distancing and all participants wearing facemasks. Safety protocol agreements are in place with our campus partners.

Vaccine Shots

Vaccination is your best protection against COVID-19, and you need a booster shot to have comparable protection from Omicron as you had from the Delta variant with 2 vaccine shots. Booster shots are available to those ages 16 years and older who are fully vaccinated. See CDC's Vaccines for Specific Groups of People.

Facemasks

The CDC rates Manatee County as an area of high community transmission, and states masks should be worn in public indoor spaces by everyone, vaccinated and unvaccinated. For protection against Omicron, a tight-fitting N95 or KN95 mask, or a 3-layer surgical mask plus a cloth mask, is recommended.
 

Manatee County Conditions, January 11-13

Cases. In the week ending January 13, there were 5416 new cases, a 19% increase in 7 days.

Positivity. In the week ending January 11, 29.7% of tests were positive, a 3.7% increase in 7 days. The WHO states that positivity above 5% indicates insufficient testing is being performed and cases are probably undercounted.

Vaccination. As of January11, 55.6% aged 65 and up had received 2 vaccine shots plus a booster. View here the Jan. 15 article in the South Florida Sun Sentinel about breakthrough Omicron cases.

To view the latest data for Manatee County, regularly reported above, go to the CDC's COVID Data Tracker.