The school year is well under way, and we now have a few weeks of navigating the return to school under our belt. Last week, Indiana Governor Holcomb announced that he advanced the state of Indiana to Stage 5 of “Indiana Back on Track” through October 17th. Stage 5 does still require face coverings and social distancing for all indoor events. Click here for more information on Stage 5. As we have in the past, ECC will continue to monitor for changes and comply with the State of Indiana’s plan.
Last week our Children’s Ministries Director Kristin Mueller introduced our reopening of Children’s Ministries to begin this Sunday October 4th. If you missed any of her announcement, you can find the details here.
As we announced this past Sunday, ECC has now begun to implement strategies to safely and compassionately reopen our facilities for community members to use. We want to emphasize we are slowly opening up, and we will be considering building usage requests individually.
ECC’s commitment to any group using the building is that ECC will provide a room that has been sanitized prior to usage. Additionally, ECC will provide hand sanitizer for use as well as soap and disposable towels will be in the bathrooms for handwashing.
ECC is requiring all groups (internal or external) using a room to sign a COVID-19 Facility Use Agreement. This is an addendum to our standing Facility Use Agreement. Group Leaders must sign this agreement and ensure that group participants are informed of the agreement. Groups agree to good hygiene practices to be utilized including sanitizing of hands upon entering ECC building, wearing of face masks by all attendees, and practicing social distancing of 6 feet or more.
Group leaders must also agree to notify the Church immediately if a member of their group who used space at ECC in the previous 14 days tests positive for COVID-19. Names are not required, but it is with compassion and care that we will necessitate the closing of the relative portion of the building for sanitization and the notification of any groups or individuals that may have been exposed so they may take actions accordingly.
As we slowly reopen, prioritization of building usage will be given to internal ministries, such as studies and small groups, over external requests. We want to make sure that we can adequately sanitize rooms, entry areas, and rest rooms between usages. We are not at the point yet where we are hosting dinners, athletic events, or parties. Once we gain some more experience with the flow of ministry events, we will consider adding more to the activities calendar. Of course, any of this can change should direction change from the State of Indiana or the Tippecanoe County Health Department. For more questions or information on indoor room usage or our plan to safely reopen ECC for room use, please contact the church office.