In Illinois, our governor has announced that we're able to enter the next phase of our COVID journey. The state is calling this next phase the "Bridge Phase". It is supposed to be the bridge between restrictions and pre-pandemic normal life. Depending on what activity one wishes to do, the restrictions have been eased up slightly. Or considerably. Or not at all.
The bridge phase went into effect yesterday. Among the main provisions:
- Dining out: very slight changes. For indoor dining, tables must remain six feet apart, with no parties larger than 10. These are unchanged from the previous phase. Standing capacity (which I assume refers to taverns) has gone from 25% of capacity to 30% of capacity
- Health and fitness centers: capacity has gone from 50% to 60%. Indoor class size maximum remains unchanged at 50.
- Offices, retail and similar business settings: from 50% of capacity to 60% of capacity
- Meetings, conferences and conventions: for large events, from the lesser of 250 people / 25% of capacity to the lesser of 1,000 people / 60% of capacity
- Theaters, performing arts centers and spectator sporting events: for large venues, from 25% of capacity to 60% of capacity
Various retails are setting their own rules. None can be more permissive than the state permits, but some will choose to be more restrictive. Walmart and Sam's Club has announced it won't require masks anymore if that is permitted in the local community. Other retailers including Target, Kroger and Walgreens will continue to require masks for its shoppers.
For the Catholic churches in the area, some things also are loosening up. The archdiocese sets its own rules, based on CDC guidelines, consultation with local and state public health officials, and its own judgment. Among the new guidelines:
- Mass seating capacity: has increased from 25% of capacity to 60% of capacity. In addition, seating distancing has been reduced from six feet to three feet
- Communion: face shields no longer need to be worn by those ministers who are fully vaccinated. Other provisions (ministers must wear masks, recipients must sanitize hands, lines must be single file) remain in effect
- Instrumentalists, including wind instrumentalists, can now return, if they are fully vaccinated and can provide proof to the pastor or music director
- Choirs can resume, for those choir members who are fully vaccinated. They must provide proof of vaccination to the pastor or music director, must wear masks at all times, and must stay at least six feet apart from one another
- Masks: must still be worn by all at mass, for now. All at Catholic schools also must continue to be masked, for now
- Registration and sign-in: continues to be required for liturgical services, for now
We're a little ahead of your location in relaxing restrictions. Churches can be at 100% capacity, but people aren't filling them up yet. They are still recommending masks in church, and people are still in the habit of distancing. I think a lot of behavior is habit based, and maybe that's a good thing, since we got used to being cautious. We did have a pretty good crowd for the Ascension vigil Mass on Wednesday evening. Choirs have been singing for a few weeks now. I was a little unnerved when two high school soccer teams showed up for the vigil Mass, and some of them came up in the choir loft. Because of course they weren't wearing masks and were sitting elbow to elbow in the pews. I just told myself that 95% protected is pretty good. I am dropping my mask to sing, and that is a relief, because singing into a KN95 mask is a miserable experience.
ReplyDeleteWe never did have registration and sign up for church here, of course we're a lot smaller yhan your location.
We are attending a friend's birthday celebration tomorrow. I know these people have been vaccinated. But I hope they didn't invite everyone they know.
Katherine are the overall COVID metrics trending in the right direction in your state? In Illinois they seem to be trending favorably but that is still not the same as "COVID is gone"
DeleteIn our health district, which is a four county area, cases are at 17 per 100K. Statewide 51.2% of adults are vaccinated. So going in a good direction, but like you said, not at zero yet.
DeleteNow they have opened up the Pfizer vaccine to kids 12 and over, we'll see how many families take advantage of it. Some people are saying we should be focusing on getting vaccine to the countries which have very low rates of vaccinated people rather than giving it to kids. I can see both sides of that. But even though teens are not as susceptible as adults, they still do get Covid, some of them seriously.
"It is supposed to be the bridge between restrictions and pre-pandemic normal life."
ReplyDeleteI suspect pre-pandemic life, i.e. without the virus still being around in our local communities, will not return. But people will pretend it is not there, and decide to live as if it were not there.
"Governor DeWine also announced that he has asked the Ohio Department of Health to remove most pandemic health orders on June 2nd. The timeline will allow any Ohioan who has not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine to obtain one to protect themselves and others before the lifting of coronavirus mitigation protocols."
ReplyDelete"Measures being removed will include facial covering protocols, social distancing guidelines, and capacity restrictions for indoor and outdoor events.
Governor DeWine announced that any pandemic health orders that would remain solely relate to either 1.) nursing homes and assisted living facilities, which will also to have federal safety protocols, and 2.) data collection related to the pandemic."
"In an effort to increase the number of Ohioans who currently have not taken a COVID-19 vaccine to get vaccinated, Governor DeWine announced a series of statewide drawings to help incentivize vaccinations.
Ohioans under the age of 18 who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine will be entered into a drawing for a four-year full scholarship to any of Ohio's state colleges and universities, including full tuition, room, and board.
Ohioans aged 18 and older will be entered into a weekly drawing with a prize of up to $1 million.
A total of five weekly drawings for each prize will take place, with the first winners being announced on May 26th. Winners must have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the date of the respective drawing.
The drawings will be administered by the Ohio Department of Health, with technical assistance from the Ohio Lottery Commission, and will be funded through existing allocations to the Ohio Department of Health of unexpended coronavirus relief funds."
Maybe my vaccination will make me a millionaire. I am not exactly looking forward to it. I used to play the lottery when it got really high, like $20 million. That way I could quite work and retire. But now that I don't have to work having that much money would just create a lot of problems.
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"Together, the Bishops of Ohio have decided that the general obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation (including the Saturday/Vigil Mass) is to be reinstated (CIC, can. 1247). This will take effect in each of the Dioceses of Ohio the weekend of June 5-6, 2021.
ReplyDeleteAs has always been the case, those who have a serious reason are exempt from attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2181). This includes those who are ill, have significant health risk factors or care for someone who is immuno-compromised or ill, as well as those who have significant fear or anxiety of contracting the coronavirus in a large group of persons.
Nevertheless, these persons should observe the Lord’s Day (CIC, can. 1247) and are encouraged to spend time in prayer on Sunday, meditating on the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection; an appropriate way to do this is through viewing a broadcast of the Sunday Mass.
I know the obligation already has been reimposed elsewhere. I wish that weren't the case. I don't like laying additional burdens on people.
DeleteWell the Code of Canon Law states an ideal which is not to be confused with Anglo-Saxon Law. Increasingly most Catholics understand that. A lot of the Holy Days have very few people, much less than Ash Wednesday and All Souls day.
DeleteUnfortunately there will be some elderly people who will be disturbed by all this. I thought they did a good job of assuring them that they are allowed to stay home.
Although I am vaccinated I don't plan to return until the incidence in Ohio as well as the nation is very low I am very happy at home. Betty will want to return to choir, but she has a lot of vulnerability that needs a very low incidence rate. So I am going to be a home anchor so that she doesn't throw caution to the wind so she can be back in choir.
The dispensation in our archdiocese (and all of Nebraska) will be lifted on Pentecost weekend. As Jack said above, those who have a serious reason will still be exempt. I have never liked the idea of calling the privilege of going to Mass an obligation. But it seems like there is sufficient wiggle room than people who don't feel that it's safe for them yet need not feel guilty about staying home.
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