Dear Brothers and Sisters,
With the new measures being announced by the Government on 18 Feb 2020, we are updating Grace Church guidelines as follows:
1. If you have recently returned from overseas and without a travel history to mainland China, please monitor your health and seek medical attention promptly if you feel unwell, and please inform your congregation pastors and EXCO members.
2. If you have recently returned from overseas and with a travel history to mainland China and HAVE been served with a 14 days of Stay Home Notice (SHN), you will have to observe the following:
(a) remain home at all times
(b) minimise contact with others; no visitors
(c) keep a record of persons you come into close contact with
(d) monitor your health
(e) maintain personal hygiene
3. If you have upcoming travel plans to mainland China, please inform your Congregation Pastors and EXCO members. For those who are serving in vulnerable groups (Elderly and Children), do discuss with your ministry leader(s) on the options.
4. Individuals who are unwell should not attend any church activities.
5. We will be carrying out the following measures:
(a) Temperature taking for activities of large gathering, in particular Worship Services, and requesting contact info of visitors (for tracing purposes).
(b) To request those who are visibly unwell (respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, shortness of breath and flu-like symptoms, with or without fever) to stay at home and seek medical assistance if necessary.
(c) We will review church practices where many people access the same objects, such as Bibles, Hymn Books, offering bags, communion cups etc. Alternative methods will be shared at the Pulpit when they are ready
(d) Intensify cleaning of high contact surfaces such as doorknobs, handrails, lift buttons etc.
(e) Grace Elderly World activities will be suspended indefinitely. Love Meal, Song Ai Fellowship, CC Evergreen Class, Rainbow Class and Choir Sunday School will also be suspended, as some may have underlying condition which could make them vulnerable when they are infected.
(f) Children Ministry activities will be suspended for another week. Respective Congregations may resume children activities from 1 March if their team is ready. In addition, they will need to propose additional protocols
(g) Live streaming of worship services will be introduced once we have sorted out the technical and licensing issues.
COVID-19 is transmitted primarily through droplets. To fight this outbreak, we need to look after our personal hygiene, AND keep Singapore clean. A clean environment will help stop community transmission of COVID-19
7 good habits
1. Keep premises clean and pest-free
2. Return trays, keep tables clean
3. Keep toilets clean and dry
4. Wash hands regularly with soap
5. Take temperature, see doctor if unwell, stay home
6. Use tissue when sneezing or coughing
7. Bin litter and soiled tissue
Let us continue committing the current situation onto our Lord and stay vigilant. Let us seek not to be alarmist and be prayerful and responsible. We shall continue to monitor the situation closely and update again if there is new development.