2022 NEW JERSEY DIOCESE STATE ASSEMBLY
STAY IN THE KNOW
As we prepare to worship together during our 2022 New Jersey Diocese State Assembly, here are a few things that we want you to keep in mind, that we believe will help keep you, your family and friends safe during our in-person gatherings.
Here are the protocols you can follow:
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Wear a Mask
Although it looks trivial and common, some people still neglect to use masks. Wearing masks is very important to protect your body from viruses. By wearing a mask, we can reduce the risk of spreading the virus, and even break the chain of virus transmission. Likewise, when we meet people or when we want to take pictures together, keep using your mask for protection to avoid the virus from spreading. -
Wash Your Hands with Soap and Warm Running Water
Always wash your hands after touching objects, receiving packages, pressing the elevator button, shopping, taking money, and any other surface contacts. If there is no soap and water nearby, use a hand sanitizer to eliminate germs from your hands. Hence, don't forget to always carry your own hand sanitizer and soap in your bag. -
Keeping Physical Distance
Services and activities require you to leave your house every day. If so, protect yourself by always keeping a distance of at least 1-2 meters from surrounding people. Likewise, when you have to shop or eat in public areas, make sure you keep your distance to avoid physical contact with surrounding people to reduce virus transmission through droplets when people talk, sneeze, and cough. -
We follow the safety/ church protocols set forth by The House of God Church, Keith Dominion - pandemic response department
As we prepare to worship together during our 2022 New Jersey Diocese State Assembly, here are a few things that we want you to keep in mind, that we believe will help keep you, your family and friends safe during our in-person gatherings.
Why Should You Wear a Mask When It's Recommended?
1. They reduce viral transmission (if worn correctly).
"Surgical masks and cloth coverings can reduce viral transmission by 70% if everyone wears them and wears them correctly over [their] nose and mouth," our Jurisdictional Prelate indeed emphasizes the importance of not only wearing a mask, but wearing it properly. According to the CDC, that means washing your hands before putting on your face mask and making sure it covers your nose and mouth once in place. It should also fit comfortably, but snugly on your face. If it's a disposable mask, the CDC recommends throwing it away after one use. If it's a cloth mask, you can store it in its own bag and reuse it that day, then wash it that night for the next day (but if it becomes wet or dirty during use, wash it before using it again).
2. They prevent pre-symptomatic spread, preventing others from getting sick (before you know you have COVID-19).
According to a January 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, "transmission from asymptomatic individuals was estimated to account for more than half of all transmissions". In other words, you could be carrying the virus in your body before you get any symptoms of it (aka pre-symptomatic)—or you may have the virus but never get symptoms, in which case, you would be asymptomatic.
Wearing a mask is an easy way to reduce the risk of unknowingly spreading the infection, but it's not a panacea—people also need to observe social distancing and practice good hand hygiene.
3. You're protecting yourself from getting sick.
While experts went back and forth throughout the pandemic about whether wearing a mask would also protect the one wearing it, the CDC states that studies do show that the person wearing the mask is also partially protected from being exposed to infectious droplets coming from other people with the virus—better than no mask at all. Referring to cloth masks, in particular, the CDC also says that "multiple layers of cloth with higher thread counts have demonstrated superior performance compared to single layers of cloth with lower thread counts."
4. They're good hygiene in general.
Before the pandemic, medical professionals—from surgeons to dentists—wore masks to protect themselves from contracting potential illnesses from patients; they also wore them to prevent their own germs from spreading. In some cultures, wearing a mask when one is ill or has allergies is common. Wearing a mask to protect yourself and others when in a high-risk situation is simply good hygiene.
As we prepare to worship together during our 2022 New Jersey Diocese State Assembly, here are a few things that we want you to keep in mind, that we believe will help keep you, your family and friends safe during our in-person gatherings.
Sanitation is Paramount when attending our services
We practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, microphones, pews, chairs and the like) with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, following label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product. We use technologically advanced, professional electrostatic sprayers to deliver a safe, effective shield of a hospital-grade disinfectant over all surfaces, after each gathering.
