Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to safely reopen religious services during the coronavirus pandemic was quietly changed after its release last week.
Most of the changes were deleting bullet-points from the “Promote social distance” section of the guidelines. There was one addition to the guidelines about protecting First Amendment rights of worshipers.
The CDC already warned against singing in church after a choir practice in Washington turned into a “super spreader” event. One person infected with the virus gave it to up to 53 others during the two-and-a-half hour choir practice in March, according to the CDC.
The changes in the “Promote social distancing” section also delete the recommendation that people wear masks when they are in close contact, but the new version left a separate section that recommends people wear masks.
There are changes to other sections too, including removing a reference to limiting the use of “shared cups” during services.
The new version removes a bullet point from a section on child care and youth groups. The old version said: “Consider virtual activities and events in lieu of in-person youth group meetings and religious education classes, as feasible. If in-person events will occur, follow considerations for other types of gatherings and use several strategies to encourage behaviors that reduce the spread of COVID-19.”
The White House initially did not allow the CDC to post its church reopening guidance, but President Donald Trump changed course last week and released the guidelines, according to the Associated Press. The old version of the guidelines was posted first, but then the CDC changed the website without notice.
Here are the two versions of the “Promote social distancing” section on from the guidance for churches:
New guidelines with additions in bold
Old guidelines with deletions in bold
Take steps to limit the size of gatherings in accordance with the guidance and directives of state and local authorities and subject to the protections of the First Amendment and any other applicable federal law.
Promote social distancing at services and other gatherings, ensuring that clergy, staff, choir, volunteers and attendees at the services follow social distancing, as circumstances and faith traditions allow, to lessen their risk.
Consider holding services and gatherings in a large, well-ventilated area or outdoors, as circumstances and faith traditions allow.
Consider appropriate mitigation measures, including taking steps to limit the size of gatherings maintaining social distancing, at other gatherings such as funerals, weddings, religious education classes, youth events, support groups and any other programming, where consistent with the faith tradition.
Provide physical guides, such as tape on floors or walkways and signs on walls, to ensure that staff and children remain at least 6 feet apart in lines and at other times (e.g. guides for creating “one-way routes” in hallways).
Take steps to limit the size of gatherings in accordance with the guidance and directives of state and local authorities.
Promote social distancing at services and other gatherings, ensuring that clergy, staff, choir, volunteers and attendees at the services follow social distancing throughout services, as circumstances and faith traditions allow, to lessen their risk. This may include eliminating lines or queues, if a 6-foot distance between attendees is hard to ensure. Use of cloth face coverings should be encouraged when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Consider holding services and gatherings in a large, well-ventilated area or outdoors, as circumstances and faith traditions allow.
Consider appropriate mitigation measures, including taking steps to limit the size of gatherings and maintaining social distancing, at other gatherings such as funerals, weddings, religious education classes, youth events, support groups and any other programming, where consistent with the faith tradition. Use of cloth face coverings should be encouraged when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Provide physical guides, such as tape on floors or walkways and signs on walls, to ensure that staff and congregants remain at least 6 feet apart in lines and at other times as needed (e.g. guides for creating “one-way routes” in hallways).
Add additional services to weekly schedules to maintain social distancing at each service if appropriate and feasible. Consider video streaming or drive-in options for services and other gatherings and meetings.
Consider suspending or at least decreasing use of a choir/musical ensembles and congregant singing, chanting, or reciting during services or other programming, if appropriate within the faith tradition. The act of singing may contribute to transmission of COVID-19, possibly through emission of aerosols.
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.
Charles Duncan covers what’s happening right now across North and South Carolina, from breaking news to fun or interesting stories from across the region. He holds degrees from N.C. State University and Duke and lives two blocks from the ocean in Myrtle Beach.
