Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship

You can check the county transmission levels here: Jackson County IL COVID-19 tracker

CUF COVID-19 Policy Adopted 10-13-22, Revised 11-10-22 by the Board of Trustees

The committee to review CUF Covid Policy (Rob G, Roy S, Laraine W and Nan S) met on Sunday September 25 to discuss the Covid policy. Information presented included conversations with other local faith communities and their practices; personal experience from international travel; current local, state, and federal mandates/law; information provided by Miriam L-M related to health dept. and state recommendations; feedback from members and "covid now vs. covid then." Considering information presented with follow up discussions we came up with the following recommendations regarding the covid policy. The committee did support the use of masks at events like the yard sale where there was a large crowd of predominantly "community" individuals during a state of high transmission. The committee felt that those situations presented a higher risk due to sheer numbers and unknowns related to vaccination status.Given that vaccines and booster shots are readily available, and that Covid is now considered endemic (here to stay in the general population), and that the City of Carbondale and the State of Illinois have ended mask mandates for the general population, and that other faith congregations in Carbondale have adopted singing and refreshments and a “your choice” approach to masking during services and social gatherings, we recommend that CUF:

— Continue to let our congregation know the current Covid level in Jackson County (CDC website, updated every Friday),

— Encourage mask wearing during periods of medium risk level, but do not require masks, leaving the decision up to each adult and to each parent for his/her/their children,

— During periods of high risk level, require mask wearing for those in the sanctuary attending services, leaving masks as optional elsewhere in the Fellowship,

— Offer masks at the door to those who may want one but not require anyone to take and wear a mask (with the above exception during high risk level),

— Return to hospitality social hour in person every Sunday with coffee, other beverages, and food brought in,

— Return to monthly in-person potlucks with no restrictions,

— Return to singing together in person with masking optional,

— Return to choir singing in person at our services,

— Allow outside groups who rent our building to make their own decisions about mask wearing and food sharing,

— During high risk levels continue to require mask wearing for indoor events that will likely attract 100 people or more at a time.

So that people can make the best decision for themselves regarding mask wearing, we will continue to keep people informed of the current COVID level in the county, including posting the current level on the door for people to see as they attend any functions and/or Sunday service.