Covid-19 Update (3/1/2022)
Dear Church Family,
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially rolled back/relaxed its indoor mask mandate, while the state of Illinois also followed suit on February 28, 2022.
Additionally, the CDC released an easily accessible “Covid-19 County Check” which measures whether each county falls under low, medium, or high risk.
You can access the CDC’s tool here.
For the past 17 months (as we started releasing digital preview content in October 2021), 168 has chosen to follow state and local guidelines. This meant adhering to masking, registration, holding a virtual Christmas service, renting out another facility to provide more space, in addition to adding more air purifiers and sanitizing between services. We truly believe that we have done our best to hold the tension of gathering while loving the most vulnerable.
As we shared last week, with new scientific advancements/data e.g., hospitalization rates, case positivity, ICU availability, new cases per 100,000 people... 168 and its leadership has decided to move to “mask recommended” beginning March 13, 2022.
We understand and empathize that this information may be encouraging or discouraging for you. Please note that this means that you can still choose to wear a mask during our gatherings and activities.
Below are a few FAQs to clarify next steps followed by one word of encouragement.
Why are we pivoting towards “mask recommended” on March 13 and not today?
March 13 allows for an additional 2 weeks for people to process and think through their next step. And one way we can continue to love one another is by providing ample time to process.
The past few weeks has seen a sharp decline in Covid-19. We hope that by March 13, those numbers will continue to decline and help our neighbors feel more comfortable.
March 6 is our 1-year birthday! We want to allow those who are immunocompromised to be able to celebrate with us without hesitation.
How will 168 respond if state and CDC guidelines revert back to its former stage?
As we have from the beginning, we will continue to follow state and CDC guidelines. Meaning, if our county moves into “high risk” (CDC tool) we will ask you to wear a mask indoors and follow required guidelines.
How will you communicate about our county moving between “low, medium or high risk?”
The CDC updates their page weekly. 168 will display that week’s risk level and its recommended guidelines in our entryway (as long as necessary).
Can I take off my mask on March 13?
Yes.
Can I still wear my mask on March 13 and beyond?
Yes.
What is one tip you would provide to help navigate this change?
Choose to assume the best in one another.
In the next few weeks, you will see individuals making different choices. That is okay. We have personally spoken to family members who are seriously concerned about their children’s development and will choose to forgo wearing a mask. We have spoken with individuals who have underlying health conditions but will choose to forgo wearing a mask because their mask prevents oxygen intake as they have asthma or breathing complications. Others will choose to continue to wear their mask, as they may be in a temporary season of being in a “high risk” category or having a “high risk” family member, student, or co-worker in their sphere of contact. Others may simply not be ready. That is all okay. We see you. We love you. We assume the best in you.
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If we continue to allow our value of community - where we joyfully surrender to community, journeying together and not alone - to lead the conversation, we will continue to honor and love one another well!
We are so proud of this church! We love how you model what it means to honor and love one another.
Sincerely,
Team 168