date: may 3, 2020 - cmanamerica.org

Date:May3,2020Coptic Medical Association of North America “CMANA” recommendationsregardingCOVID-19pandemic,uponreopeningchurches:Firstphase**Disclaimer:CMANAmembersareallservantsoftheCopticOrthodoxChurch;ouropinionsaresuggestionsbasedonourmedicalopinions,experiences,andnotinanywaybinding.Thehierarchyofthechurch,withtheirwisdom,maymodifyanyandallofthesesuggestionstosuittheirchurchesandtheareastheyareservingin.I-PlanningII-GuidancebeforecomingtochurchIII-Guidanceatchurch

I- Planning:

1. Eachchurchought tohaveanexact countof thosewhoattend this church.Identifysamehouseholdmembersasonefamily.

2. Dividethecongregation,basedonthenumbersthatcanbeaccommodatedinthechurch,intofamiliessittingtogetherinthesamepew,whilekeepingonepew not occupied in between. One idea is to break congregation based on“First letterof the lastnameof the family” (e.g.A-M inonedayandN-Z inanotherday)

3. Those who attend on one day are not allowed to attend in another day(Keepingthemax.numberofthosewhoattendedbelowthenumbersallowedwhileleavinginterveningpewsunoccupied).

4. Blockinterveningpewswithyellowtapetomaintaindistance6feetdistancebetweenfamilies.

5. Basedontheabovecalculationandthenumberofliturgiesoffered,letfamiliesknowofthedaytoattendbasedonlastnameorinvitefamiliestosignuptoattend.

6. Purchaseatleast2touchlessforeheadinfrareddigitalthermometersforfeverscreeninghttps://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/16/11/10-0703_article

7. Purchaseatleast2largebottlesofhandsanitizerthatcontainsatleast60%alcoholforcleaninghandshttps://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html

8. Cleaninganddisinfection:

a. Ifthisisthefirsttimetoopenthechurchsincethepandemic,itwillonlyneedyournormalroutinecleaningtoreopen.ThisisbecausethevirusthatcausesCOVID-19hasnotbeenshowntosurviveonsurfaceslongerthanthistime.

b. Fordisinfectingbetweenfutureliturgies,pleaserefertoAppendixAfortypesandmixturesofdisinfectants.

9. Informpeopleaboutyourcleaninganddisinfectingproceduresandhowtopreparebeforecoming tochurchbyplacing this informationon thechurchwebsite.Educatethecongregationthatthisisthenewnormalthatconformstolawsoftheland,andmaycontinueforanunknownduration.Theyneedtobeeducatedthatthroughoutthehistoryofthechurch,themethodofgivingcommunion changed to suit the times, such as during persecution times.Current guidance states that “Places of worship can operate under strictphysicaldistancingprotocols.”

10. Designateonedeacontoserveatthealtarwhilemaintaininga6feetdistancefrom the priest; except when handing the priest objects necessary for theliturgy.Anyadditionaldeaconstoserveatthealtaronlyifthe6feetdistancefromthepriestandotherdeacon(s)canbemaintained.

11. Designateonedeacon to serveoutside the altar.Anyadditionaldeacons toserveoutsidethealtaronlyifthe6feetdistancefromtheotherdeacon(s)canbemaintained.

12. Ifthechurchhasaplayground,keepitcloseduntilfurthernotice.13. Encouragepeopletouseelectronicbanktransfersforfinancialcontributions.

Surfacemailisalesssecuremethod,butanacceptablealternative.

II-Guidancebeforecomingtochurch:

1. Bringyourownheadscarfandlegacy(handkerchief forcommunion). Ifyoudon’t,churchwillofferdisposablepapertowels.

2. Bringyourownindividualsmallwaterbottletodrinkfromaftercommunion.Donotshareawaterbottlewithanyoneelse.

3. Wear your mask at all times while on the church premise, except duringcommunionandwhileinsideyourcar.

III-Guidanceatchurch(eachchurchshouldcoordinatetherequiredroleslistedbelow from its congregants, preferably from those assigned to attend theconductedliturgy):

1. Limitchurchentrytoonlyoneortwoofthechurchdoors

2. At least2health careworkers greetpeople at thedoor to explainwhy thefollowingstepsarenecessaryforofeachperson:

a. Take temperature using a touchless forehead infrared digitalthermometer. If anyone in the family has a temperature ≥ 990F =37.20C,theyallreturnhome.

b. B.Anyonewithhistoryofpositiveinfectionareaskednottocomeforatleast14daysafterinfectionandissymptomfree.

c. C.Cleanhandswithahandsanitizer.Ifapersonpreferssoapandwaterescortthemtothebathroom.

d. D.Writeyournameinalogbookuponenteringthedoor.3. Onefamilyatatimeshouldenterchurchtoavoidanycrowding.4. All people > 2 years old shouldwearmasks throughout the liturgy; except

immediatelybeforetakingcommunion.5. Designatedushersguideenteringpeopleintothesanctuaryinordertohave

eachfamilysittogether;maintaininga6feetdistanceinalldirectionbetweenfamilies.

6. Greetingduringthereconciliationprayerorafterthechurchisfinishedshouldbe with nodding, placing one’s hand on his or her own heart, bowing, oranothergesturethatdoesnotinvolvetouchingtheotherperson.

7. Whilefilling-upforcommunion,maintainthe6feetdistancebetweenfamilies&keepyourmaskonuntilthepersonaheadofyoureachesthespotwhereshe/heisopeningtheirmouthtoreceivetheholysacraments.

8. Communion:Due to the sensitivity of the practice of communion from the liturgicalstandpoint,CMANAwillnotmakeanofficialrecommendations.

9. Useastationaryboxforcollectingfinancialcontributionsinsteadofpassingacollectiontray.

10. TheOlugia(blessingpieceoforban) isdividedanddistributedbyadeaconwearingamaskandgloves,oristakendirectlybypeoplebeforeexitingthesanctuary.

11. Greetingthepriestandothersbeforeleavingchurchshouldbeagesturethatdoesnot involvetouchingtheotherperson.Don’tkissthepriest’shand.Noshakinghands,hugging,orkissing.

12. Headtoyourcarintheparkinglotimmediatelyuponexitingthesanctuary.13. Nomeetings,Sundayschool,eatingordrinkingatchurch.

Respectfullysubmitted;TheCopticMedicalAssociationofNorthAmerica(CMANA)

AppendixA:Disinfection:

1.1. Determinewhatneedstobecleanedonlyandwhatneedstobecleanedthendisinfected:1.1.1. Cleanwithsoapandwateronly:Mostoutdoorareasrequiremaintain

existingcleaningandhygienepracticesonly.Frequentlytouchedoutdoorhardsurfacesandobjectsshouldbecleanedthendisinfected.

1.1.2. Clean with soap and water then disinfect using an EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA)-approved disinfectant: Indoor frequentlytouchedsurfacesandobjects,suchastables,doorknobs,lightswitches,countertops,handles,desks,phones,keyboards,toilets,faucetsandsinks&touchscreens

1.2. A list of EPA-approved disinfectants can be found herehttps://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2.Followthemanufacturer’sinstructionsforconcentration,applicationmethod,contacttime&storageaccordingtothelabel.Therearecurrently no EPA-registered disinfectants (also called antimicrobials, orbiocides)thatspecificallyincludetheSARS-CoV-2virusontheproductlabel.

1.3. Wear gloves and other personal protective equipment appropriate for thechemicals being used https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/cleaning-disinfection.html.

1.4. An alternative disinfectant when EPA-approved disinfectants are notavailablecanbepreparedby:

Mixing1/3cup(5tablespoons)ofhouseholdbleachsolutions(atleast1000ppmsodiumhypochlorite)addedto1gallonofwater,or4teaspoonsaddedto1quartofwater.1.5. Donotmixbleachorothercleaninganddisinfectionproductstogether.This

can cause fumes that may be very dangerous to breathe in. Keep alldisinfectants out of the reach of children. Do not overuse or stockpiledisinfectantsorothersupplies. Thiscanresult inshortagesofappropriateproductsforotherstouseincriticalsituations.

1.6. Types of surfaces: (Table 1 in reference 7 shows porosity of commonmaterials.)1.6.1. Hard (non-porous) surfaces, such as tables, door knobs & faucets

shouldbecleanedthendisinfected1.6.2. Soft(porous)surfaces,suchascarpetedfloor,rugs,anddrapesshould

becleanedwithappropriatecleanersindicatedforuseonthesesurfaces,theneitherlaunderedinaccordancewiththemanufacturer’sinstructionsusingthewarmestappropriatewatersettingfortheitemsandthendry

itemscompletely,ordisinfectedusinganEPA-approvedproductsuitableforporoussurfaces.

1.6.3. Electronics, such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, and remotecontrols,removevisiblecontamination,thenfollowthemanufacturer’sinstructionsforallcleaninganddisinfectionproducts.Ifnomanufacturerguidanceisavailable,considertheuseofalcohol-basedwipesorsprayscontainingatleast70%alcoholtodisinfecttouchscreens.Drysurfacesthoroughlytoavoidpoolingofliquids.Consideruseofwipeablecoversforelectronics.

1.7. Whenyoufinishcleaning,remembertowashhandsthoroughlywithsoapandwater.

1.8. Repeatcleaninganddisinfectionaftereveryliturgy.1.9. Revise your cleaning and disinfection procedures if circumstances change

andbasedonupdatedguidance.References:

1. InterimGuidanceforAdministratorsandLeadersofCommunity-andFaith-BasedOrganizationstoPlan,Prepare,andRespondtoCoronavirusDisease2019(COVID-19)https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/guidance-community-faith-organizations.html

2. GuidelinesforOpeningUpAmericaAgainhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica/

3. ReopeningGuidanceforCleaningandDisinfectingPublicSpaces,Workplaces,Businesses,Schools,andHomeshttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html

4. DisinfectantsforUseAgainstSARS-CoV-2https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2.

5. CleaningandDisinfectingYourFacilityhttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html

6. CleaningandDisinfectionforCommunityFacilitieshttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/cleaning-disinfection.html.UsingdisinfectantstocontroltheCOVID-19virushttp://npic.orst.edu/ingred/ptype/amicrob/covid19.html