Menu Close

Protocols for Use of Church on Main during COVID-19

A. Protocols for Use of Church on Main during COVID-19

June 2021

Event leaders are responsible for ensuring that these policies are fully enforced, in addition to local and federal orders and guidelines.

Per Delaware Division of Public Health: Any person who has been exposed to COVID-19 may not enter Church on Main for 14 days OR 7 days with a negative test after day 5 with no symptoms.
Exceptions include those who tested positive for COVID in the preceding 3 months & those who are fully vaccinated and not experiencing symptoms.

Any person who tests positive for COVID may only enter after meeting the following CDC policies:

  • 10 days since symptoms first appeared, and
  • 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, and
  • Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving.

Unvaccinated people must wear face masks; vaccinated people do not need to wear face masks.

Leaders should consult and implement recommendations from “5 Considerations to Reduce Risk of Aerosol Transmission” as appropriate.

All people who enter Church on Main do so at their own risk. Entering constitutes as agreement to abide by these protocols and to not hold Church on Main, our Ministry Partners, or any participants liable for injury or illness.

B. Church on Main’s In-Person Worship Policies

In order to make decisions regarding In-Person Worship, Church on Main’s Board has decided to use a COVID-outbreak severity scale developed by the Harvard Global Health Institute, accessed by NPR’s “Tracking Coronavirus Around The U.S.: See How Your State Is Doing” map.

C. Church on Main Air Quality Guidelines

April 2021

Background

On April 5, 2021 the CDC released a science brief stating, “The principal mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is through exposure to respiratory droplets carrying infectious virus. It is possible for people to be infected through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects (fomites), but the risk is generally considered to be low.”

This means we must pay more attention to clean air than we do to clean surfaces. 

In other words, COVID is airborne.  Less wiping down, more air turnaround!

5 Considerations to Reduce Risk of Aerosol Transmission

  1. Masks that cover both mouth and nose are the safest way to allow people to gather.  However, not all masks are the same.  Current CDC guidelines suggest N95/KN95 masks most effectively prevent aerosol spread.  The second best option is a surgical mask with a cloth mask on top of it (double masked).
  2. Consider meeting outdoors.  The grassy area in the back of the building is available for use, and you may bring tables and chairs out there.  Four canopies are available for use, and they are under the right-hand staircase.
  3. When indoors, turn on both HEPA filters, which reduce the amount of viruses in the air. 
    Carefully move the HEPA filters to other rooms in the building as needed.
  1. Monitor the CO2 levels using the sensor located near the kitchen window.  CO2 levels above 1,000ppm indicate there is not enough air replacement.  Due to the building’s age, the only way to increase air replacement is to open windows and doors.  The CO2 monitor may beep when it reaches above 1,000ppm.  To turn off the beep, double click the button.  It is not necessary to turn off the CO2 monitor.

    Please note: 1,000ppm of CO2 is not a concerning level of CO2 for human health, but high CO2 levels indicate there are higher levels of exhaled air in the room.  More exhaled air = more risk of COVID transmission.  However, unlike CO2, masks & HEPA filters reduce the number of virus aerosols, so 1,000ppm with these safety measures is safer than 1,000ppm without masks or HEPA filters.  CO2 is an imperfect but helpful measure.
  2. As weather permits, consider opening windows and using the window fans. 
    Ensure the room has both internal and external flow.  Fans are located under the kitchen pass-through window.

Last to Leave Checklist

D. Last to Leave Checklist

As a shared facility, we ask that Ministry Partners and/or the last person to leave the building ensure the following:

  • Air is off
    • 2 – Split Air in Fellowship Hall
    • 1 – Split Air Kitchen
    • 1 – Split Air Office
    • HEPA filters
  • Floor is given a Quick-Sweep
  • Kitchen is clean
    • No food is left out
    • Sink is cleared of dishes and food
    • Coffee pots, microwave, and toaster oven are unplugged
  • Bathrooms are clean enough for the next group to use
    • If needed, the “pee pad” under the urinal is discarded and replaced.
  • Trash is taken to outdoor trashcans
  • Windows locked
  • Back door’s glass & wooden doors are locked
  • Lights off
  • Front door is locked
    • Please note, this door is difficult to lock and often takes more than one attempt. Please double check before you leave.