Tahoma UU Congregation Coming Together Risk Levels – November 18, 2021
The Coming Together Committee has been tasked to develop recommendations for the reopening of Tahoma UU Congregation church building for gathering in person. As we all know, there are many factors to consider and there is no one correct answer. While we know that we will never be able to guarantee everybody’s safety, we want our reopening to be a careful and thoughtful process that will allow us to come together as safely as possible.
We are using the risk levels identified by Covid Act Now (covidactnow.org), a resource recommended by the UUA, to help us determine our reopening plan. Covid Act Now is an independent, non-profit organization that uses current data to determine risk levels in all counties in the U.S. They use information regarding daily case rates, infection rates, and positive test rates to assign risk levels. Based on this information, the local Pierce County risk level may improve or worsen and we will need to respond to risk levels as they change.
Current Risk Level for Pierce County
Please note that, when Pierce County moves to a lower risk level, it will take at least a week for the change to be implemented. If Pierce County moves to a higher risk level, those changes may be more immediate. Notice of changes will be posted on our website and communicated through our e-News.
It is uncertain how long we will need to pay attention to Covid Risk Levels. What we do know is that new information about the disease, its transmission, and prevention is evolving. We continue to learn, and will adjust, as needed.
Stages of Coming Together at TUUC
Deep Red: Severe
- No in-person meetings. Church is fully closed.
Red: Very High Risk
- Building Closed for Sunday Services. Online worship service on Zoom and Facebook
- Online Social Time following church service
- Church Office Closed
- Outdoor Gatherings allowed (full guidelines)
- Masks required
- Small indoor gatherings in Sanctuary (full guidelines)
- Arrangement seating in sanctuary follows 6-foot distancing guideline
- Open windows for air circulation with air circulators (fans) and air purifiers used
- Staff considerations:
- Primarily working from home, can work in building, following guidelines.
- Onsite staff for online worship service and building maintenance
Orange: High Risk
- Building open for Sunday services, limited to 50 congregants
- 6-foot social distancing, can take into consideration individual/family units/self-identified pods
- Masks worn
- Open windows for air circulation with air circulators (fans) and air purifiers used
- Use of reservation system
- No singing
- Online worship service on Zoom and Facebook
- Outdoor Social Time following worship service
- Beverages may be prepared in kitchen (dependent upon availability of volunteers). No more than 2 people working in kitchen at same time, following appropriate distancing/masking and ventilation (open doors, kitchen fans on)
- Online Social Hour following church service
- Social Hall and classrooms closed
- Nursery is closed
- Sanctuary meeting room is available for one family/pod on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Church Office Closed
- Library accessible for borrowing/returning books, dependent upon availability of volunteers. Limited number of people in library to maintain appropriate social distancing.
- Outdoor Gatherings allowed (full guidelines)
- Masks required
- Small indoor gatherings in Sanctuary (full guidelines)
- Arrangement seating in sanctuary follows 6-foot guideline
- Open windows for air circulation with air circulators (fans) and air purifiers used
- Staff considerations
- Primarily working from home, can work in building, following guidelines
- Onsite staff for Sunday worship service and building maintenance
Yellow: Medium Risk
- Building open for Sunday services, limited to 100 congregants
- 6-foot social distancing, can take into consideration individual/family units/self-identified pods
- Masks worn
- Open windows for air circulation with air circulators (fans) and air purifiers used
- Use of reservation system, as needed
- No singing
- Online on Zoom and Facebook
- Outdoor Social Time following worship service.
- Beverages may be prepared in kitchen (dependent upon availability of volunteers). No more than 2 people working in kitchen at same time, following appropriate distancing/masking and ventilation (open doors, kitchen fans on)
- Online Social Time following church service
- Small groups can use Social Hall and kitchen
- 6-foot distance guideline
- Masks worn
- Ventilation
- Programming on Sunday morning in Social Hall for children
- 6-foot social distance guideline
- Masks worn
- Ventilation
- Nursery is closed
Green: Low Risk- specifics to be determined at a later date