Guidance for In-Person Worship at the Meetinghouse

Guidelines from the Pandemic Response Team

(expect updates, sometimes without notice)

As of July 9^th, 2023, masks are optional in the Meetinghouse.  Vaccination, Quarantine Guidelines and Testing Protocols remain the same.  See also Minute 09.07 [1] for 2023-09-11.

Updated September 11, 2023:

Welcome to the Concord Friends Meetinghouse!

Thank you for helping us ensure the safety and health of our Meeting by following* the guidelines below.

*There is a Case-By-Case Exceptions section at the end of this page.

Please DO NOT enter the building if any of the following apply:

• You are not fully vaccinated and appropriately boosted against COVID-19, including the bivalent omicron booster as soon as feasible.
• You have had contact with an infected person in the past 10 days.
• You have traveled to a high risk area in the past 10 days.
• You have a fever, cough, or other viral symptoms.

An alternative option if you have had or been exposed to COVID (or traveled to a high-risk area where you may have been exposed unknowingly) is to test negative for COVID on three consecutive occasions (with each test at least 48 hours apart and while not taking antiviral medication such as Paxlovid) and to be at least 5 days from resolution of acute symptoms, potential exposure, and/or last dose of antiviral medication.

While in the Meetinghouse please DO the following:

• Wear a mask over your mouth and nose at ALL TIMES while inside the building, with the following exception:
  • Following meeting for worship, individuals are asked to please continue to wear masks in the Fellowship Room while participating in fellowship and potluck events.  Please only remove masks while actively eating and drinking.  Friends are encouraged to eat outside and to physically distance.  If you choose to eat inside, please choose a well-ventilated place to sit, such as near an open window.
  • Doors to the common hallway should remain closed during times when the Fellowship Room is in use.  Masks are required during singing in the Fellowship Room.
• Maintain a 6 foot distance from persons not in your household.
• Avoid unnecessary touching of surfaces.
• Use hand sanitizer and/or wash your hands frequently.
• Gloves and N-95 type masks are available for your protection.

Case-By-Case Exceptions

Please understand that we are trying to be faithful to the spirit of Divine love while providing a worship space that is both as welcoming and as safe as possible — two goals which may be in conflict.  If you are particularly concerned about safety, remember that we have no way of enforcing all of the above restrictions and that we do provide access to Worship via Zoom.

If you are adversely affected by any restrictions and would like us to consider making an exception on a case-by-case basis, please contact us by email to discuss your concerns.

Email: PandemicResponseTeam@ConcordFriendsMeeting.org

Unaffiliated Groups addendum – adopted 9^th April 2023

Moving forward, groups that are not affiliated with or sponsored by Concord Friends Meeting, while using the building at a time when no other events are scheduled, are free to establish their own policy regarding COVID.  However, should a future need arise, we may again impose COVID restrictions that would apply to all groups using the building.  We also ask that any group’s COVID policymakers anticipate and consider the following scenarios:

1. Someone arrives at the gathering with a cough and chooses not to wear a mask.
2. Someone arrives and asks if everyone present could please wear a mask.
3. A participant tests positive for COVID shortly after the gathering and suggests contact tracing.
4. A new COVID emergency occurs that warrants an immediate change before policy makers in the group are next scheduled to meet.

Thank you for your cooperation now and in the future as we adapt our policy to changing conditions over time.