Reopening Plan
The Session has approved a phased plan for re-opening. The plan includes the need for positive virus tests to be steady or in decline for two weeks before moving to the next phase. Below is a summary of the plan. The entire plan can be found here.
Covid Plan: The Gist
Phases 0-3
**It is possible that we will need to fluctuate between Phases.
Mask wearing and social distancing must be observed throughout all phases.
Phases 0-3
**It is possible that we will need to fluctuate between Phases.
Mask wearing and social distancing must be observed throughout all phases.
Phase 0: This is what the church has been operating under for the past several months. Extremely limited in-person meetings are allowed for the purposes of taking care of essential office business, recording online worship services, and essential mission partner activities. Limited gatherings can be held outside with permission. Grace will offer online worship services.
Phase 1: Grace will continue to offer online worship services. Small group gatherings (15 people or less) can gather in the Grace building and with permission and reservations through Peggy Blaine. Limited gatherings can be held outside with permission.
In order to move into Phase One, the following criteria must be met:
Phase 2: Grace will begin holding worship services in the sanctuary while still streaming these services online. Masks will be worn, social distancing observed. We will limit this to one service per week. Small group gatherings (15 people or less) can gather in the Grace building and larger groups can meet in the Grace building with permission and reservation. Gatherings can be held outside with permission.
In order to move into Phase Two, the following criteria must be met:
Phase 3: Grace will begin holding worship services in the sanctuary while still streaming these services online. If there are sufficient volunteers, multiple services can be held in the same day. Masks will be worn, social distancing observed. Small group gatherings can gather in the Grace building with permission and reservation. Gatherings can be held outside with permission. The task force will evaluate at this time if and how other activities can occur.
In order to move into Phase Three, the following criteria must be met:
- Phase Zero should be implemented when person-to-person spread of the Covid-19 virus is increasing for two or more weeks in the York County area (as indicated by weekly totals compared to previous week) or when the healthcare system is at or nearing acute hospital bed capacity to care for Covid-19 cases (>80%).
Phase 1: Grace will continue to offer online worship services. Small group gatherings (15 people or less) can gather in the Grace building and with permission and reservations through Peggy Blaine. Limited gatherings can be held outside with permission.
In order to move into Phase One, the following criteria must be met:
- Two week average of flat or declining positive cases (as indicated by weekly totals compared to previous weeks) in the York County area, and the healthcare system for acute hospital bed capacity to care for Covid-19 cases for York County is less than or equal to 80%. See links from Phase 0.
- We have adequate funds and/or supplies for sanitizing used spaces, purchasing cleaning and PPE, and for ensuring person-power to staff events to ensure safety.
- Approval is obtained from staff to transition to phase 1.
Phase 2: Grace will begin holding worship services in the sanctuary while still streaming these services online. Masks will be worn, social distancing observed. We will limit this to one service per week. Small group gatherings (15 people or less) can gather in the Grace building and larger groups can meet in the Grace building with permission and reservation. Gatherings can be held outside with permission.
In order to move into Phase Two, the following criteria must be met:
- Three week average of flat or declining positive cases (as indicated by weekly totals compared to previous weeks) in the York County area. This would be one additional week after transitioning to Phase 1.
- Approval is obtained from staff to transition to Phase 2.
- We have adequate funds for sanitizing used spaces, purchasing cleaning and PPE, and for ensuring person-power to staff events to ensure safety.
Phase 3: Grace will begin holding worship services in the sanctuary while still streaming these services online. If there are sufficient volunteers, multiple services can be held in the same day. Masks will be worn, social distancing observed. Small group gatherings can gather in the Grace building with permission and reservation. Gatherings can be held outside with permission. The task force will evaluate at this time if and how other activities can occur.
In order to move into Phase Three, the following criteria must be met:
- Two additional weeks of declining positive cases (as indicated by weekly totals compared to previous weeks) in the York County area after transitioning to Phase 2.
- We have adequate funds for sanitizing used spaces, purchasing cleaning and PPE, and for ensuring person-power to staff events to ensure safety.
- Approval is obtained from staff to transition to Phase 3.