the extent consistent with each community’s faith tradition”:
Hygienic and cleaning practices
• Encourage use of flexible or virtual options whenever possible
for all non-worship activities (e.g., counseling, volunteer
meetings).
• Follow specific CDC guidance for childcare or educational
programming for children and youth.
• Encourage use of a cloth face covering at all gatherings and
when in the building by everyone except children aged less than
2 years old. (Not using a cloth face covering may also be
appropriate at times for some individuals who have trouble
breathing or need assistance to remove their mask.)
• Have adequate hygiene supplies, such as soap, tissues, no-touch
trash cans, hand sanitizer (with at least 60 percent alcohol).
• Consider posting signs on how to stop the spread of COVID-19
and promote everyday protective measures.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at least daily
and shared objects between use. Avoid use of items that are not
easily cleaned, sanitized, or disinfected. Ensure safe and correct
application of disinfectants and keep them away from children.
• Ensure that ventilation systems operate properly and increase
circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening
windows and doors, using fans, and so on. Do not open windows
and doors if they pose a safety risk to children using the facility.
• Take steps to ensure that all water systems and features (for
example, drinking fountains, decorative fountains) are safe to
use after a prolonged facility shutdown to minimize the risk of
Legionnaires’ disease and other diseases associated with water.
Promoting social distancing
• Limit the size of gatherings in accordance with the guidance and
directives of state and local authorities and in accordance with
RFRA.
• Consider video streaming or drive-in options for services.
• If appropriate and possible, add additional services to weekly
schedules to maintain social distancing at each service, ensuring
that clergy, staff, and volunteers at the services ensure social
distancing to lessen their risk.
• Consider holding services and gatherings in a large, wellventilated
area or outdoors, as circumstances and faith traditions
allow.
• Space out seating for attendees who do not live in the same
household to at least six feet apart when possible; consider
limiting seating to alternate rows.
• Consider whether other gatherings may need to have attendance
limited or be held virtually if social distancing is difficult, such
as funerals, weddings, religious education classes, youth events,
support groups, and any other programming.
• Avoid or consider suspending use of a choir or musical
ensemble during religious services or other programming, if
appropriate within the faith tradition. Consider having a soloist
or strictly limiting the number of choir members and keep at
least six feet between individuals.
• Consider having clergy hold virtual visits (by phone or online)
instead of in homes or at the hospital except for certain
compassionate care situations, such as end of life.
• Consider temporarily limiting the sharing of frequently touched
objects, such as worship aids, prayer books, hymnals, religious
texts and other bulletins, books or other items passed or shared
among congregants, and encourage congregants to bring their
own, if possible, photocopying, or projecting prayers, songs, and
texts using electronic means.
• Modify the methods used to receive financial contributions.
Consider a stationary collection box, the mail, or electronic
methods of collecting regular financial contributions instead of
shared collection trays or baskets.
• Consider mitigating the risk of transmitting COVID-19 posed by
close physical contact among members of the faith community
during religious rituals as well as mediated contact through
frequently touched objects, consistent with the community’s
faith traditions and in consultation with local health officials as
needed.
• If food is offered at any event, have pre-packaged boxes or bags
for each attendee whenever possible, instead of a buffet or
family-style meal.
• Avoid food offerings when it is being shared from common
dishes.
• Train all clergy and staff in the above safety actions. Consider
conducting the training virtually, or, if in-person, ensure that
social distancing is maintained.
Monitoring and preparing
• Encourage staff or congregants who are sick to stay at home.
Plan for when a staff member or congregant becomes sick.
• Identify an area to separate anyone who exhibits COVID-like
symptoms during hours of operation and ensure that children are
not left without adult supervision.
• Establish procedures for safely transporting anyone who
becomes sick at the facility to their home or a health-care
facility.
• Notify local health officials if a person diagnosed with COVID-
19 has been in the facility and communicate with staff and
congregants about potential exposure while maintaining
confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) or other applicable laws an in accordance with
religious practices.
• Inform those with exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-
19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms, and follow
CDC guidance if symptoms develop.
• Close off areas used by the sick person and do not use the area
until it after cleaning and disinfection; wait 24 hours to clean
and disinfect to reduce risk to individuals cleaning. If it is not
possible to wait 24 hours, wait as long as possible before
cleaning and disinfecting. Ensure safe and correct application of
disinfectants and keep disinfectant products away from children.
• Advise sick staff and congregants not to return to the facility
until they have met CDC’s criteria to discontinue home
isolation.
Maintain healthy operations
• Implement flexible sick leave and related flexible policies and
practices for staff (e.g., allow work from home, if feasible).
• Monitor absenteeism and create a roster of trained back-up staff.
Designate a staff person to be responsible for responding to
COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person
is and how to contact them.
• In the event a person diagnosed with COVID-19 is determined
to have been in the building and poses a risk to the community,
it is strongly suggested to close, then properly clean and
disinfect the area and the building where the individual was
present.
• Communicate clearly with staff and congregants about actions
being taken to protect their health.
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