Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Good Shepherd) is
committed to providing a safe and healthy campus for all our Staff, volunteers,
members, and visitors. To
ensure we have a safe and healthy campus, we have developed the following
COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff, volunteers,
members, and visitors are all responsible for implementing this plan. Our goal
is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 on our campus and in our communities, and
that requires full cooperation of everyone. Only through this cooperative
effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of those frequenting
Good Shepherd.
Staff,
volunteers, members, and visitors are responsible for implementing and/or
complying with all aspects of this COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. Good Shepherd’s Staff have full
support in enforcing the provisions of this policy. The Pastor is designated as the Plan
Administrator.
At Good
Shepherd, we are serious about the health and safety of all people. Staff
involvement is essential in developing and implementing a successful COVID-19
Preparedness Plan. We have involved our Staff in this process by soliciting
their concerns and feedback and incorporating their feedback into this plan.
Our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan follows Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines, Federal
OSHA standards related to COVID-19, and Executive Order 20-48 & 20-99 (and
amendments) and addresses:
- • hygiene
and respiratory etiquette;
- • engineering
and administrative controls for social distancing;
- • cleaning,
disinfecting, decontamination and ventilation;
- • prompt
identification and isolation of sick persons;
- • communications
and training that will be provided to staff, volunteers, members, and
visitors; and
- • management
and supervision necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plan.
Screening and policies for staff
and volunteers exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19
Staff,
volunteers and members have been informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for
signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being
implemented to assess their health status prior to entering Good Shepherd and
have them report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms. All Staff,
volunteers and members:
- 1. Will
stay home and notify Good Shepherd’s Pastor if they are experiencing any
suspected COVID-19 symptoms or if a family member is experiencing any suspected
COVID-19 symptoms.
- 2. Will
stay home if they are “at risk” for higher susceptibility to becoming infected
from or experiencing any adverse effects from COVID-19.
- 3. While
at Good Shepherd, if any Staff member develops or experiences COVID-19
symptoms, they will immediately go home and/or seek medical attention. Once off the premises, they will contact the Pastor
who will immediately take measures to clean and disinfect affected work areas.
“At
risk” is defined by Executive Order 20-55 as people who are: 65 years and older;
living in a nursing home or a long term care facility; and any age with
underlying medical conditions, including, but not limited to, chronic lung
disease, severe asthma, serious heart conditions, immunocompromised, severe
obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis and liver
disease.
Good Shepherd has implemented a procedure for
informing workers if they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 at their
workplace, requiring them to be tested for COVID-19, and requiring them to quarantine for the required
amount of time if they test positive. These exposures will be documented. Staff members and any affected volunteers
and/or members will be notified by the Pastor if another Staff member or
volunteer has experienced COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive. Staff members, volunteers and members exposed
to anyone who has tested positive will self-quarantine for a period of two
weeks. Staff members have the ability
to, and will be expected to, work from home.
All
health information and the health status of all volunteers and Staff members
will be protected.
Handwashing
Basic
infection prevention measures are being implemented at our workplaces at all
times. Staff members, volunteers and members are instructed to wash their hands
for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day, but
especially at the beginning and end of their shift, prior to any mealtimes and
after visiting the bathrooms. All
visitors to the workplace will be required to sanitize their hands prior to or
immediately upon entering the facility. Hand-sanitizer dispensers (that use
sanitizers of greater than 60% alcohol) are at entrances and at various
locations throughout Good Shepherd so they can be used for hand hygiene in place
of soap and water, as long as hands are not visibly soiled.
Respiratory etiquette: Cover your cough or sneeze
Staff
members, volunteers, members and visitors are being instructed to cover their
mouth and nose with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to
avoid touching their face, in particular their mouth, nose and eyes, with their
hands. They should dispose of tissues in provided trash receptacles and wash or
sanitize their hands immediately afterward. Respiratory etiquette will be
posted at all entryways and supported by making tissues and trash receptacles
available to all workers, customers and visitors.
Social distancing and masks
Social
Distancing of six feet will be implemented and maintained between Staff
members, volunteers, members and visitors at Good Shepherd. The wearing of masks is required of anyone
entering Good Shepherd. Masks have been
made available to volunteers and Staff members and Good Shepherd has a limited
number of additional masks on hand.
Signage will be posted at all entrances.
Food and drinks
No shared or common food and drinks are
allowed at Good Shepherd.
Cleaning, Disinfection, and Ventilation
Regular
housekeeping practices are being implemented, including routine cleaning and
disinfecting of work surfaces, equipment, and areas in the work environment,
including restrooms, meeting rooms. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will be
conducted in high-touch areas, such as phones, keyboards, touch screens,
controls, door handles, railings, copy machines, equipment, etc. Cleaning Staff will continue to clean Good
Shepherd weekly, concentrating on all high touch areas. Staff members will clean and disinfect their
individual work areas and any other areas that they frequent or use. All member groups meeting at Good Shepherd
will clean and disinfect all areas used to include tables, chairs and all high
touch areas, such as doors, door handles and bathrooms at the beginning and end
of the meeting.
Appropriate and effective cleaning and
disinfectant supplies have been purchased and are available for use in
accordance with product labels, safety data sheets and manufacturer
specifications and are being used with required personal protective equipment
for the product. Cleaning and
disinfecting supplies are available in the office and in the kitchen area. Cleaning must be done by someone wearing an
appropriate protective mask and gloves. All areas should be sprayed down with
the supplied disinfecting solution and wiped down with supplied paper towels.
The maximum amount of fresh air is being brought
into the workplace, air recirculation is being limited and ventilation systems
are being properly used and maintained. Steps are also being taken to minimize
air flow blowing across people.
Small Groups/Meetings
*See Attachments
Worship Services (Including
baptisms, weddings and funerals)
**See Attachments
Communications
This
COVID-19 Preparedness Plan was communicated electronically to all Staff members
and have been shared at Staff meetings.
The plans have also been shared with Board of Presidents, Deacons,
Council, and volunteers. A copy will be
provided to any groups meeting at Good Shepherd. Staff members are to monitor how effective
the program has been implemented by observing compliance and correcting any
violations. This COVID-19 Preparedness
Plan has been certified by Good Shepherd Staff and it will be updated as
necessary.
Updated
and Certified by:
Jon
Niebuhr, Pastor John Brinkman,
Board of Presidents
November
19, 2020
Attached: Protocols for Music, Protocols for
Group Meetings, Protocols for Worship
Worship Services (Including
baptisms, weddings and funerals)
Essential worship services will include regular religious services
and other celebrations (e.g., baptisms, weddings, and funerals). They will not
include social gatherings or public events, though small group studies and
support meetings, appropriately distanced, could be allowed. The following
precautionary measures will be put in place:
1.
Participants who are at risk
(as previously defined) for higher susceptibility to becoming infected from or
experiencing any adverse effects from COVID-19 are encouraged to stay home;
2.
Participants will stay home if they are
experiencing any suspected COVID-19 symptoms or if a family member is
experiencing any suspected COVID-19 symptoms;
3.
Participants will maintain a social distance of
at least six feet from people not in the same household at all times;
4.
Occupancy for worship services will be limited to a maximum of 240
people. This number is inclusive of
congregants, staff, singers, musicians, elders, greeters, ushers and any
volunteers. Including another 75 people in the fellowship hall for overflow;
5.
Pews will be roped off so that people cannot sit closer than 6
feet (unless they are members of the same household living together);
6.
The space will be thoroughly sanitized after each service,
including all entryways and doors, if another service is scheduled for less
than 72 hours time between services. Hand sanitizer will be available at all
entryways;
7.
Interior doors will be propped open and traffic patterns will be
introduced where possible to ensure Social Distancing. Ushers will assist when
necessary to help maintain physical distancing;
8.
Signs will be posted concerning Social Distancing and sanitation
requirements and reminders will be offered;
9.
Collection plates and other items will not be passed person to
person;
10.The wearing of facemasks will be
required coming into and leaving the Sanctuary.
Participants will be encouraged to bring their own protective wear
including facemasks.
11.People will be instructed not to
greet each other with touching;
12.Signs and other instructions will
encourage normal safe practices necessary to stop the spread (e.g. cough or
sneeze into a shirtsleeve, handkerchief, or tissue; avoid touching the eyes,
nose, and mouth to help slow the spread of germs);
13.Hymnals, Bibles and informational
cards have been removed from the pews;
14.Ventilation will be increased as
much as possible, opening windows and doors, as weather permits;
15.Restroom use will be limited to no
more than two people at a time. Signs
will be placed on the restroom doors limiting restroom use;
Communion Practice
- 1. We will have cups ready to serve overflow and
parking lot attendees.
- 2. Sanctuary
- a. Need one usher to
direct people forward.
- b. We will do one
side at a time.
- c. It will be served
as walk through on the one side for all.
- 3. Wear a mask while
ushering.
- 4. Set up of
Communion
- a. Individual cups
only.
- b. Set only one
wafer bowl, and the chalice, at the altar.
- c. Those serving
will sanitize their hands before and after serving.
-
Small Groups/Meetings
A copy of this Preparedness Plan and
training will be provided to all small groups meeting at Good Shepherd.
- 1.
We have two larger areas that are marked off
for safe gatherings.
- a.
You can use the
smaller classrooms, if you are a small enough group to do Social Distancing.
- 2.
We would ask that
you wear a mask at all times.
- 3.
We will disinfect
areas on a regular basis.
- 4.
We ask that if you
use our facilities, at the end of the meeting you designate someone to
disinfect the area/s you used. There is a disinfectant station by the kitchen,
and in the Office, with instructions and supplies to use. A representative from Good Shepherd will show
you where and instruct you on what to do.
- 5.
Please communicate
with everyone that if they do not feel well, to please stay home.
- 6.
If you have someone
who was at your meeting and became sick.
- a.
Please notify
Pastor.
- b.
We will then make
sure we clean all areas where that person may have been.
- c.
It will be the
responsibility of the leader of the meeting to contact those in attendance that
might have been exposed. Good Shepherd is not responsible for any of their tests,
or other medical or leave costs they may have.
- 7.
There will be hand
sanitizer at each door, if you see that one is out of sanitizer please let the
office know.
- 8.
Practice Social Distancing
at all times.
Nov. 2020
Appendix A – Guidance for developing a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan
General
Centers for Disease Controal and Prevention (CDC): Coronavirus (COVID-19) – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH): Coronavirus – www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus
State of Minnesota:
COVID-19 response – https://mn.gov/covid19
Businesses
CDC: Resources for
businesses and employers – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html
CDC: General business
frequently asked questions – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/general-business-faq.html
CDC: Building/business ventilation – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html
MDH: Businesses and employers:
COVID-19 – www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/businesses.html
MDH: Health screening checklist – www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/facilityhlthscreen.pdf
MDH: Materials for businesses and employers – www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/materials
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
(DEED): COVID-19 information and
resources – https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid/
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI): Updates related to COVID-19 – www.dli.mn.gov/updates
Federal OSHA – www.osha.gov
Handwashing
MDH:
Handwashing video translated into multiple languages – www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdQuPGVcceg
Respiratory etiquette: Cover your
cough or sneeze
CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
CDC: www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/etiquette/coughing_sneezing.html
MDH: www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/prevention.html
Social distancing
CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html
MDH: www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/businesses.html
Housekeeping
CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html
CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/cleaning-disinfection.html
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
Employees exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19
CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html
MDH: www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/basics.html
MDH: www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/facilityhlthscreen.pdf
MDH:
www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/returntowork.pdf
State of Minnesota – https://mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/if-sick/get-tested/index.jsp
Training
CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-small-business.html
Federal OSHA: www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf
MDH: www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/about.pdf