CVUU COVID-19 Guidance March 2022

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The guiding resources for the Board’s decisions are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more specifically COVID-19 Community Levels (Updated 04 March 2022) CLICK HERE, and COVIDACTNOW (covidactnow.org).


From the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels website:


“More tools than ever before are available to prevent COVID-19 from placing strain on communities and healthcare systems.

With current high levels of vaccination and high levels of population immunity from both vaccination and infections, the risk of medically significant disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 is significantly reduced for most people. At the same time, we know that some people and communities, such as our oldest citizens, immunocompromised people, and people with disabilities, are at higher risk for severe illness and face challenging decisions navigating a world with COVID-19.

In addition to protecting those at the highest risk of severe outcomes, focusing on reducing medically significant illness and minimizing strain on the healthcare system reflects our current understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection, immunity from vaccination and infection, and the tools we have available. Vaccines are highly protective against severe disease, and continuing to expand vaccine coverage and ensuring people are up to date with vaccination is essential to protecting individuals against hospitalizations and deaths.


Health officials and individuals should consider current information about COVID-19 hospitalizations in the community and the potential for strain on the local health system and COVID-19 cases in the community when making decisions about community prevention strategies and individual behaviors. Communities and individuals should also make decisions based on whether they are at high risk for severe disease and consider inequities in access to prevention strategies.

COVID-19 Community Levels can help communities and individuals make decisions based on their local context and unique needs. Community vaccination coverage and other local information, (early alerts from surveillance, i.e. wastewater or the number of emergency department visits for COVID-19) can also inform health officials and individuals.”

CDC “Low” Level Guidance

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters
  • Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible
  • Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19
  • If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease:
    • Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing)
    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies.

CDC “Medium” Level Guidance

  • If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease:
    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions (e.g., testing)
    • Have a plan for rapid testing if required (e.g., having home tests or access to testing)
    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies
  • If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease:
    • consider self-testing to detect infection before contact
    • consider wearing a mask when indoors with them
  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters
  • Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible
  • Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19
  • CDC “High” Level Guidance
  • Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status (including in K-12 schools and other indoor community settings)
  • If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease
    • Wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection
    • Consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed
    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions (e.g., testing)
    • Have a plan for rapid testing if required (e.g., having home tests or access
      to testing)
    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies
  • If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease
    • consider self-testing to detect infection before contact
    • consider wearing a mask when indoors with them
  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters
  • Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible
  • Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19

CDC Current Community Level

The CDC currently characterizes the risk of COVID-19 as “LOW” in the
the community served by CVUU.

CVUU Sunday Worship Services Guidance when CDC Community Level is “LOW”
In-person Sunday services have resumed, and virtual services will continue. Masking will be optional. Congregants are encouraged to be fully vaccinated and receive their booster shots per CDC guidance. Ticketing for services will not be required. Congregants experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (or sick in general) are requested to attend our ZOOM service.


CVUU Sunday Worship Services Guidance when CDC Community Level is “MEDIUM”

In-person Sunday services have resumed, and virtual services will continue.
Congregants and visitors who attend in-person services in the sanctuary shall wear a protective mask to protect any attendee who may be immune-compromised or otherwise ineligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Congregants are encouraged to be fully vaccinated and receive their booster shots per CDC guidance.


Congregants and unvaccinated visitors are encouraged to take a COVID-19 rapid test before attending any activity at CVUU. Congregants experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (or sick) are requested to follow our ZOOM service.

CVUU Sunday Worship Services Guidance when CDC Community Level is “HIGH”

Services will be held via ZOOM. Congregants are encouraged to be fully vaccinated and receive their booster shots in accordance with CDC guidance.

Religious Education (CRE)

Currently, the position of the RE staff is that masking is mandatory for all children and all people working with children. A survey has been sent to parents to assess risk tolerance and preference for programming. We already know some parents will not send their children to in-person programming inside the church, mainly because not all children are vaccinated yet. We will try to refine that data to get a clearer picture of how many people are willing to participate and in what manner so that we will be able to know what RE will look like when it begins. We are still aiming for 01 May 2022, as an in-person RE start date. The current plan is that this will be a multi-generational service that will be held outside.

Outdoor work on the CVUU Grounds

Effective immediately, all previous COVID-19 restrictions for work parties and events outdoors on the property of CVUU are suspended. Please follow normal procedures to ensure all activities are scheduled and added to the CVUU calendar.

Scheduled Outdoor Events

Please contact the Office Administrator to schedule outdoor events or activities at least 30 days before the event. Participants may resume using indoor restrooms.

Committee Meetings Indoors/ Outside

CVUU Committees and groups may meet indoors or outside. Masks and physical distancing are encouraged but optional. Decisions to wear masks and participate in person are entirely a matter of personal risk assessment. Participants should be respectful of the decisions of other participants to wear masks or physically distance themselves. Bathrooms may be used. Where Wi-Fi is available, hybrid meetings are encouraged if participants are reluctant to attend in person. Meeting participants are
responsible for providing/managing the tech for their hybrid meeting.

Small-Group Meetings Inside the Church

Small groups (affinity groups, affiliate groups, etc.) may resume activities at CVUU. These activities should be scheduled on the calendar through the Office Administrator.


In-Person Coffee Hour

In-person Coffee Hour may resume after Sunday services as soon as suitable volunteers are identified to host this activity safely. Masks and physical distancing are optional. Congregants and visitors are encouraged to participate based on a personal risk assessment.


General Guidelines the Board is Considering for Indoor Activities

The Board of Directors will continue to monitor the risk levels (Low, Medium, and High) via the CDC Community Levels website, and this status will remain subject to change.