Coronavirus Updates

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2/16/2022 - COVID Guidance

Since Covid-19 safety guidance has varied greatly over the past year, this document provides a comprehensive summary of current guidance for you. At this time, the Governor’s mask mandate is still in place and we will continue to follow mask mandates while they are in place. Once governmental guidance changes, we will review and provide updated guidance.

Pastoral Discretion
Pastors now have the discretion to implement general guidelines according to local circumstances and priorities. It is recommended that “close contacts” are considered when determining if a meeting or activity can take place. The rule of close contact has been the most reliable predictor of transmission and the exact definition used to determine who should quarantine if there is an exposure to COVID-19 at an event. Close contact is interaction with an infected person, within six feet for a total of 15 minutes, regardless of vaccination status. Our goal with all activities is to minimize close contact to provide a safe environment for everyone.

While close contact is the primary mitigation factor, it is just one of several ways we can protect people. Mitigation can be defined in two categories - individual and shared:

Individual mitigation includes self-screening, staying home if sick, wearing a mask in public and especially in shared spaces, washing hands, testing and vaccination.
Shared mitigation includes fresh air exchange in spaces, proper cleaning, social distancing, testing and vaccination.

Every form of mitigation is imperfect on its own. However, we have verifiable evidence that a combination of individual and shared mitigation measures prevents close contact, virus transmission and outbreak, closure of schools, penalties, hospitalization, and death.

The following graphics should help you creatively bring back many in-person activities to help reinvigorate parish life. When in doubt, please reach out to SeattleMass2020@seattlearch.org We are here to help you carry out our mission safely!

Below please see specific guidance in alphabetical order:

Adoration Chapels
Given Reopening Adoration Chapels is encouraged. However, please post signs requiring masks, encouraging social distancing and clearly showing the capacity for the chapel. Please be sure to space chairs in the chapel 6 feet apart or mark in pews where people should sit.

Ash Wednesday
This year, ashes can be given in the usual way, on the forehead. Both the minister giving the ashes, and those receiving them, should remain masked throughout. The minister should sanitize hands before distributing ashes, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards. Given what we know about how Covid is transmitted, this is a low-risk activity.

We are also receiving questions about adaptations to Holy Week in 2022. Given how quickly the pandemic is evolving, it would be premature at this point to offer any guidance on Holy Week. We will be monitoring the situation and will communicate special adaptations, if any, before the end of March.

Government Guidance
It is important to recognize that Catholic parishes have a unique structure and do not fall into just one category for government regulations. While our Catholic schools are a ministry of the parish, they are required by law to follow the Department of Health Guidance for K-12 schools. Schools that do not follow this guidance face closure. Therefore, all guidance for schools is fundamentally based on the DOH guidance. This includes guidance around the school day, after-school activities, school events, performances, athletics and more. Full K-12 DOH Guidance can be found here.

Homebound Ministry
While we recommend that homebound ministers are vaccinated given the fragility of the homebound, this is no longer a requirement. The pastor may consult with the individuals involved to ensure everyone is comfortable with a minister who may not be vaccinated. Regardless of vaccination status, the homebound ministers should uphold all mitigation techniques including masking, distancing and keeping the visit to less than 15 minutes.

Mass Specifics
As we enter the Lent season, we are excited to welcome more people for in-person liturgies and events. Please remember that some people may be coming to Mass for the first time in a long time. We want them to feel welcome and safe in our parishes. Given this expected increase of people, please consider the following:

Please remind people that Mass is not a high-risk activity; tens of thousands of Masses have taken place and we have no cases of anyone contracting COVID from attending Mass.
Please be sure to reiterate the safety rules around staying home when sick, masking, and alerting people to where they can sit if they prefer to remain physically distanced. Emphasize the importance of mitigation interventions and minimizing close contacts.
Liturgical ministers should be stellar examples of the safety rules, especially in wearing masks at all times when not speaking.
Hand sanitizer should remain prominently available in churches, schools, and offices.
Area of church must be reserved for people who wish to sit socially distanced.
Please keep homebound communion ministry going as well as efforts to reach out to people via phone/virtual means.
Please continue to keep your doors and windows open to ensure proper ventilation. You may wish to encourage people to come with their coats on!

Activities that have returned include:

The Sign of Peace
Inviting people to bring up the gifts
Announcements
Collection baskets with long handle or regular basket passing
General intercessions can return to normal
Holy Water
Incense
All missalettes, pew cards, pencils and other loose items in the pews can return to pre-COVID practices.
Worship aids, including reusable ones, are permitted again.
Cleaning and sanitizing of common use areas should return to pre-COVID practices.
Signs restricting the number in the bathroom should be removed.
Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Children’s Liturgy of the Word may return.
- All volunteers who work in this ministry are required to be vaccinated.
- All ministers and children should maintain social distance and wear a mask at all times.
- Please limit time together to no more than 20 minutes.
Ministers (deacon, servers, lectors) no longer need to maintain 6-foot distancing from the priest and from each other. Additionally:
- Missal may be held
- Entrance/recessional processions may take place
- Missal, chalice, paten/ciborium and cruets of wine and water may be brought per normal practice
- The lavabo with the assistance of the server may return to normal practice
- Eucharistic elements may return to normal position during Eucharistic prayer and Consecration
- Soap and water purification is no longer necessary for Communion vessels
Singing: Some musical elements may be reintroduced:
- Parishes may bring back as many cantors that fit safely 6-9 feet part. All must wear masks.
- Congregations may respond in song to the Alleluia and Responsorial Psalms and chanted dialogue parts of the Mass (ie, "The Lord be with you.... and with your spirit")
- Concerts and musicals are allowed and should follow the DOH K-12 performance guidance with special attention to guidance around spacing and requirements for the audience. (pg. 16) K-12 Schools Requirements 2021-2022 (wa.gov)

Mass Restrictions that are still in place:

Distribution of Precious Blood

Meetings
In-person meetings may take place at the parish. Please be sure to minimize close contact with masking, distancing, good ventilation and breaks for people if the meeting is more than 2 hours. Please also opt for larger rooms when possible.

Reporting Exposures
If there is an exposure at your parish, please report it to our COVID-19 taskforce for tracking purposes at seattlemass2020@seattlearch.org Our data has shown that Mass is not a high-risk activity. We have celebrated tens of thousands of Masses with no spreading events related to attendance. (The only exception is tied to choir singing.)

Social Gatherings with Food
Social gatherings such as coffee and donuts, wedding and funeral receptions, and school auctions may take place so long as sensible health precautions are taken. This includes paying attention to distancing, ventilation, time together, room capacity and minimizing close contacts with the goal of mitigating any potential spread of the virus. Decisions about which events may take place is left to the discretion of the pastor and school leadership in consultation with the pastor.

Vaccines and Boosters
Given Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has said “getting vaccinated is a simple yet profound way to care for one another, especially the most vulnerable.” At the same time, Archbishop Etienne reminds us that all who are hesitant to receive the vaccine should be treated gently and pastorally. We have embraced this direction by encouraging vaccinations, promoting reliable vaccine information, and complying with the government mandates as a reflection of the proper response to love God and neighbor.

We continue to not recommend creating any “vaccinated only” activities unless required to do so by the law. While we promote vaccines, we also respect an individual’s right to choose and have provided alternatives when possible.

Currently, there is a Washington State mandate that requires all school staff and volunteers to be vaccinated. Any employee who requested an exemption went through a multi-step process with Human Resources. This work is a true process with several steps. With the limited HR team we are unable to provide this accommodation process to our volunteers at this time. The only exception is for Faith Formation volunteers who act like teachers on our campus and therefore are covered by the Washington State vaccine mandate.

To find a vaccine or booster near you here are a few resources:

Washington Vaccine Locator
Vaccine Locator by the CDC
Each county also provides its own list of locations