We care about your safety and for others who
attend Good News Bible Church. We want to assure you that we are monitoring local,
state, and federal health agencies to keep our congregants and visitors
informed about the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Please read this entire document (2 pages)
so that you are fully informed about the situation and how all of us can work
together to maximize safety and minimize concerns.
It is important to practice simple, healthy
behaviors (wash your hands, cover your cough/sneeze, and stay home when sick)
to help prevent the spread of germs. The
church has a plan in place to keep all of us safe so that we can continue to
provide essential services to attendees and our community.
COVID-19
Symptoms: The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Call your doctor if you:
Develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person
known to have COVID-19
Or, have recently traveled from an area with widespread or
ongoing community spread of COVID-19.
Where to Get Information Public health experts are the best resource of information about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Iowa Department of Public Health: Updates on persons being monitored, tested, and test results, as
well as facts and prevention tips, are available from the Iowa Department of
Public Health. See the Iowa Department of Public Health website
The Centers for Disease Control: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has information
about the COVID-19 symptoms, prevention and treatment, stigma, what to do if
you are sick, and frequently asked questions. See the CDC Coronavirus
Disease website
What Is Good News Bible Church Doing For Prevention?
Soap
and disinfectant are available for all attendees to use for hand washing and
disinfection. Soap dispensers shall be filled prior to each service.
A thorough
cleaning of common touchable surfaces will be performed on Mondays and Fridays.
All
toys, chairs and table tops in the children’s Sunday School, Children’s Church
and the Nursery will be cleaned after Sunday use and completed prior to the
next anticipated usage.
All
children in Sunday School, Children’s Church and the Nursery will be assisted
in washing their hands as they come in and as they leave the rooms.
The
kitchen area shall be cleaned after each use and all reusable dishes and
utensils shall be cleaned in the dishwasher if possible.
How Can You Help? For the safety and health of all who attend Good News, we are asking for your assistance in the following ways:
We need volunteers to help us clean on Monday and Friday of each week. Please contact the church office if you can assist us.
Please stay home if you have experienced any of the following:*
Travel outside the U.S. or been on a cruise in the past 14 days
Had close contact with someone else who recently traveled outside the U.S.
Had recent contact with someone who tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Fever, cough, chest congestion or trouble breathing * Contact us and we will work with you to support your needs.
Avoid
touching other people (i.e. handshakes, etc.)
We
have decided to eliminate the treats between services that have been so
generously provided in the past. There have been several observations of
unhealthy contamination of some of the food and utensils as people self-serve.
Due to the heightened focus on this health crisis, we think it best that this
practice be suspended for the time being. Coffee will still be provided, but
please be sure to dispose of coffee stirrers and cups in the trash and not
leave them on the counter.
Wash your hands using soap and water for at least
20 seconds (especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after
blowing your nose, or sneezing, etc.)
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
If
you suffer from a compromised immune system or any high risk medical conditions
(kidney disease, heart disease, lung disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood
pressure, etc.), feel free to stay home. Contact us and we will work with you
to support your needs.
If
you test positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) please contact us and we will work
with you to support your needs.
At this point, we do not anticipate changing our public worship or activities schedule. If you are unable to attend a worship service, a recording of the service will be uploaded on Monday after the service. There is a link to that video on the church website (www.goodnewsiowacity.com).
We do ask that you make every effort possible to follow the health guidelines set forth herein and any others that are suggested by local, state or federal health agencies. We will continue to monitor and follow the guidelines set out by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and will update our guidelines as necessary. We have discussed additional contingency plans should the crisis necessitate further actions. Your assistance is crucial in order to avoid putting other people at risk or causing them unnecessary concerns.
Thank you for partnering with us as
we deal with this crisis.