Dear Saltwater Community,
We are holding you, your family and our larger community in care as we move through this time. Yesterday, new recommendations were released by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and King County Public Health to help slow the spread of the Coronavirus. It is a critical time for us to do what we can to slow the spread and protect the higher risk members of our community.
The new recommendations include:
People at higher risk of severe illness should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public places with lots of people and large gatherings where there will be close contact with others.
People at higher risk include people:
- Over 60 years of age
- With underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes
- With weakened immune systems
- Who are pregnant
Public Health is also recommending postponing events that bring together people in large groups.
Due to these recommendations, Saltwater UU Church is taking the following steps:
All church programming will be canceled from today, Thursday, March 5th through Tuesday March 10th. This includes Sunday morning worship. We will re-evaluate church programming based on the available information from the CDC and King County Public Health on Tuesday, March 10th.
A Sunday morning worship option will be offered online via zoom. When we have more details we will share them with you by email, on the church website, and on the church facebook page.
Most staff will be working from home by phone and computer. All staff have been instructed not to come to the church if they are sick.
There are things that all of us can do to help slow the spread:
If you are sick, stay home, unless you are in need of medical care
Wash your hands often, using soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds
You can read the full set of Public Health recommendations here: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/disease-control/novel-coronavirus/protection.aspx
We know that this can be an anxious time. You are not alone. If you are in need of support, please contact one of our staff members or lay ministers who can provide support over the phone or by zoom:
Rev. Kristen Kuriga, Minister: minister@saltwaterchurch.org
Melinda Einander, Director of Family Ministries: melinda@saltwaterchurch.org
Lay Ministers: Debra Valpey, Mike Yanega, Lynn Crow, and Toska Rodriguez
(contact info can be found in the member directory or the Who to Call sheet in the members section of the website)
Blessings, Rev. Kristen Kuriga