Local COVID-19 updates
May. 18th, 2020 08:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 4PM this afternoon, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 65 more deaths from COVID-19 (for a total of 5,862 to date), 1,042 new cases (for a total of 87,052) and 8,373 more tests reported (for a total of 469,199). The dashboard's "Testing By Date" chart (page 4) shows a 17% test positive rate for today; However, the state changed the methodology for the testing-by-date report today; it is now reporting based on the date the test was administered (instead of the date the test results were reported to the state). This is supposed to be "more precise and useful".
As expected, Governor Baker announced his plan for reopening the Massachusetts economy. As of today, the "Start" phase begins; houses of worship, manufacturing plants and construction sites can reopen (assuming they meet business-sector-specific requirements) and hospitals can start providing "high-priority preventative care, pediatric care, and treatment for high-risk patients and conditions." Next week, business offices outside of Boston can open, along with hair salons and barbershops. Retail shops in general can reopen next week as well, for curbside pickup or delivery only. On June 1, offices within the city of Boston may also open.
I'm okay with the manufacturing and construction industries reopening under the specified restrictions. Reopening houses of worship, though? The state's safety standards call for no more than 40% occupancy and six-foot distances between people not of the same household. (How one does that in a sanctuary with fixed pews is left as an exercise for the reader.) Child care is prohibited, as are coffee hours or any other pre- or post-service socializing. Worse, no mention is made anywhere of the known enhanced risks of choral singing, such as the superspreader event at a Washington state choir practice (52 of 61 choir members infected, three hospitalized, two dead).
My church is currently planning to do remote-only worship through at least the end of the summer. The Unitarian Universalist Association is currently recommending that its member congregations plan to continue virtual services through May 2021:
As expected, Governor Baker announced his plan for reopening the Massachusetts economy. As of today, the "Start" phase begins; houses of worship, manufacturing plants and construction sites can reopen (assuming they meet business-sector-specific requirements) and hospitals can start providing "high-priority preventative care, pediatric care, and treatment for high-risk patients and conditions." Next week, business offices outside of Boston can open, along with hair salons and barbershops. Retail shops in general can reopen next week as well, for curbside pickup or delivery only. On June 1, offices within the city of Boston may also open.
I'm okay with the manufacturing and construction industries reopening under the specified restrictions. Reopening houses of worship, though? The state's safety standards call for no more than 40% occupancy and six-foot distances between people not of the same household. (How one does that in a sanctuary with fixed pews is left as an exercise for the reader.) Child care is prohibited, as are coffee hours or any other pre- or post-service socializing. Worse, no mention is made anywhere of the known enhanced risks of choral singing, such as the superspreader event at a Washington state choir practice (52 of 61 choir members infected, three hospitalized, two dead).
My church is currently planning to do remote-only worship through at least the end of the summer. The Unitarian Universalist Association is currently recommending that its member congregations plan to continue virtual services through May 2021:
In the midst of uncertainty, it is the UUA’s strong recommendation that congregations plan for ongoing virtual gathering and operations through May 2021. This applies to worship, events, committee meetings, staff meetings, one-on-one visits, rites of passage, and more. While smaller gatherings may be able to resume sooner if conditions improve, planning for virtual operations that could continue for a full year is advisable.As of 9PM tonight, the town of Acton is reporting 151 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in Acton with 68 individuals in isolation, 65 recovered and 18 fatalities.
Our highest values and commitments call us to refrain from in-person gathering until the COVID-19 pandemic is controlled. We invite you to think of your congregation as primarily digitally-connected, with small in-person nodes that can grow as the pandemic subsides.