Chevrei Tzedek Expectations for In Person Gatherings
Read all the expectations below carefully. If you understand and agree, complete the acknowledgment form at the bottom of the page. If you prefer, you can download the document. If you download the document you can physically sign and send the document to ????? or complete the acknowledgement form below.
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Expectations for Those Attending In-Person Events
Chevrei Tzedek Congregation
(8/04/2020)
As of this writing, the state of Maryland is allowing some gatherings with appropriate measures to reduce risk. Part of Chevrei’s commitment to “being there” for each other includes adhering to specific expectations for physical distancing. In doing so, we actively protect each other’s health and well being. The following measures are intended to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. We recognize that that risk cannot be entirely eliminated. We also recognize that people vary in their health status and their willingness to accept risk.
Over the next few months, we will be scheduling occasional in-person gatherings outside. We may need to cancel these events if public health conditions change. We will continue to make these gatherings available virtually whenever possible.
You should decline to attend a gathering under the following circumstances:
1. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or tested positive for the coronavirus, avoid attending a gathering until a doctor or other health professional tells you that you are no longer contagious.
2. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 avoid attending a gathering until you have been checked by a physician or other health professional. The most common symptoms are listed below.
Recognizing that we are each unique, if you have any reason to believe that an in-person gathering is not safe for you, you should feel no pressure to attend. The CDC has identified a number of factors that place some of us at risk for serious illness from Covid-19. These risk factors include being an older adult and having underlying health conditions. The CDC guidance is here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-increased-risk.html.
You should expect things to be different.
We need to take some extraordinary measures to keep everyone safe.
We understand that these are not the ideal circumstances for meeting. These guidelines will help us balance the need to be physically together with the health realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time we may need to adjust these expectations.
Chevrei Tzedek Congregation
(8/04/2020)
As of this writing, the state of Maryland is allowing some gatherings with appropriate measures to reduce risk. Part of Chevrei’s commitment to “being there” for each other includes adhering to specific expectations for physical distancing. In doing so, we actively protect each other’s health and well being. The following measures are intended to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. We recognize that that risk cannot be entirely eliminated. We also recognize that people vary in their health status and their willingness to accept risk.
Over the next few months, we will be scheduling occasional in-person gatherings outside. We may need to cancel these events if public health conditions change. We will continue to make these gatherings available virtually whenever possible.
You should decline to attend a gathering under the following circumstances:
1. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or tested positive for the coronavirus, avoid attending a gathering until a doctor or other health professional tells you that you are no longer contagious.
2. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 avoid attending a gathering until you have been checked by a physician or other health professional. The most common symptoms are listed below.
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Recognizing that we are each unique, if you have any reason to believe that an in-person gathering is not safe for you, you should feel no pressure to attend. The CDC has identified a number of factors that place some of us at risk for serious illness from Covid-19. These risk factors include being an older adult and having underlying health conditions. The CDC guidance is here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-increased-risk.html.
You should expect things to be different.
- Our events will only be held outside.
- Bathroom facilities will most likely be available if they occur at the Myerberg (parking lot area), but will not be available if they occur at a public park or at a member’s home (lawn area).
- Events will be limited in length (typically to an hour, possibly a bit longer for High Holidays).
- You will need to bring your own chair and bottled water. (If you don’t have your own folding chair, let us know and we can see if we can help provide you with one).
- Please bring your own prayer book if you have one for services (such as outdoor Friday night services at the Myerberg).
- If you do not have your own prayer book, we can distribute some at our first gathering that will be wiped down. You can hold on to the prayer book and bring it back with you to the next services gathering.
- While attending the gathering you will observe distancing including:
- sitting/standing at least 6 feet apart from others (family groups may sit together)
- staying 6 feet apart from others before and after the event
- not sharing food or beverages with others
- You will bring and wear a face covering that shields your nose and mouth for the entire time you are at the gathering.
- Parents will be responsible for their children following the rules.
We need to take some extraordinary measures to keep everyone safe.
- If you do not wear a mask or do not practice social distancing, you will be asked to leave the gathering. A “Health Gabbai” will remind you of our expectations.
- You must sign up for each in-person event in advance. This will keep the number of attendees reasonable for the outdoor space we have available so that distancing guidelines can be followed. While we welcome broad participation, you can not participate in a specific event unless you have signed up in advance.
- The first time you sign up for a Chevrei in-person event you will also need to sign a waiver of liability form which we will provide separately.
- The sign up process will allow us to notify people who attended the event in an instance where someone is diagnosed with Covid-19. We may also need to share the list of attendees with appropriate public health officials.
- We ask that before and after the event that those who attend keep their masks on and refrain from congregating.
We understand that these are not the ideal circumstances for meeting. These guidelines will help us balance the need to be physically together with the health realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time we may need to adjust these expectations.
