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Hello and welcome to COVID Communiqué 33. We are sending the Communiqué a day early this week because Premier Doug Ford’s decision to put all of southern Ontario in lockdown will require fast action by all of us. You have by now received Bishop Shane’s letter, instructing us all to return to the red stage of Version 2 of our pandemic plan effective 12:01 am on December 26th, and to remain there for 28 days (or until further notice).

You will find the guidelines for red stage begin at paragraph 14 of In This Together: “All church buildings are closed, all worship must be online and all meetings held online or on the phone.” 

However, please note Bishop Shane’s request that all parish clergy and wardens discuss three options to reduce the risk of spreading the virus: 

  1. Can we cancel or reduce the number of services planned for December 24th and 25th?
  2. Can we further restrict the number of people attending Christmas services?
  3. Can we move to red stage immediately?

Many of you will already have had these discussions, but given that hospitals and frontline health care workers are calling for an immediate shutdown, we must be sure to give their concerns careful consideration.

Please take time to review the red stage requirements — it has been more than three months since we left them behind. Also, make sure you are working with In This Together Version 2, released October 14th, because there were some significant updates in this later version. We would also like to emphasize these important points: 

  • Rentals are not permitted, apart from licensed daycares;
  • Church offices are closed and all meetings are to be held online or on the phone;
  • Service and outreach programs may operate only with special permission. Contact   C19helpdesk@ottawa.anglican.ca for more information;
  • If you are taping online liturgies, a maximum of 10 people, including technicians, may be present;
  • Any singer must be a minimum four metres (not just two) from anyone else;
  • Outdoor liturgies are limited to a maximum 10 people who must distance and wear masks.

As ever, send questions and comments to C19helpdesk@ottawa.anglican.ca.  The Communiqué will return on Wednesday, January 6th.

COVID Communiqué is produced by the senior staff of our diocese:
Shane Parker, Bishop
Beth Bretzlaff, Dean
Linda Hill, Executive Archdeacon
Sanjay Grover, Director of Financial Ministry
Peter John Hobbs, Director of Community Ministries
Jane Scanlon, Director of Communications & Stewardship Development
Carol Sinclair, Director of Human Resources