Updated 3-15-20 2:30 pm – Check back daily for new updates
This post will provide links and helpful information as the Coronavirus Pandemic continues. Some of these are specific to those in the Hampton Roads church and the Hampton Roads “757” communities.
Previous Coronavirus Post
Thoughts on Coronavirus (COVID-19): God cares about our illnesses and diseases
Yesterday (March 14) we posted an article with links to helpful letters from a few ACR regional churches (Northern Virginia Church of Christ and Captial Rivers (MD) Church of Christ), along with information on General Preventative Care, suggestions on New Church Fellowship Practices and how to Keep A Spiritual Perspective. Please see that article for basic information on dealing with the current situation – the advice there is basic and should remain helpful, but we’ll update the post if any of the factual or other information needs to be changed.
Social Distancing
In watching some of the newscasts this morning, there is more emphasis from federal and state authorities on social distancing. While some are taking precautions and avoiding all gatherings others are proceeding as if things are normal – in a Today show interview with epidemiologist and virologist Dr. Joseph Fair there were comments that some are not taking social distancing seriously enough, for example, bars and restaurants on Saturday evening in New York City were reportedly packed with patrons. Some governments are considering or even ordering certain businesses to close temporarily to avoid these types of gatherings, and general advice being offered in some articles is to avoid even smaller gatherings like birthday parties and playdates. While participating in outside activities is considered safer, it’s still advised to keep a six-foot distance and avoid anyone who appears sick. However, there are now questions about whether those showing no symptoms could be transmitting the disease, making it difficult to tell who should be avoided or kept at a “social distance”.
Each of us will need to decide personally how comfortable we are with contact with others during the foreseeable future. Personally, as one approaching the “at-risk” group of over-60-year-olds, I felt comfortable yesterday doing some food shopping with Mary yesterday but stayed mindful of keeping a six-foot distance from others when I could, using the self-checkout to avoid lines and taking advantage of the hand sanitizer dispensers scattered around the store. I also met some brothers on Thursday night at a local brewery, but honestly would not feel comfortable going out to eat or drink again if the establishment was more than half full (having a least a table between ours and others, and sitting as apart as possible at our table). I also feel comfortable if we decide to meet in small groups over the next few weeks, but encourage that we agree to follow the suggestions made at this morning’s Sunday worship service to avoid all touching (shaking/holding hands and hugging, etc.) and maintain a reasonable distance apart to avoid inadvertently transmitting and infecting each other. I don’t want to either overreact or be too casual about contact and gatherings, but at least for now it’s probably best to lean toward caution. Please form your own convictions and pray for wisdom as well as sensitivity toward those who may have other convictions about these matters.
Also, as has been advised many times, if you’re in an at-risk group or sick in any way, please stay home and avoid all gatherings… but use your phone and the Internet to stay connected! As one person put it recently, “it’s not a time to think only of me, but we need to start thinking more about we” in terms of protecting ourselves from the virus and in meeting needs.
See these articles for more information on Social Distancing:
- Flattening A Pandemic’s Curve: Why Staying Home Now Can Save Lives
- The Elegant Mathematics of Social Distancing
- Parents: Take social distancing seriously and limit playdates, other activities, experts say
- Social distancing can’t mean being disconnected
More Resources
Look for more posts from us on Coronavirus for Christians. We’ve added a menu item (see the top of the screen or the menu option if on a phone or tablet). I’ll be adding one soon on Working from Home.
We’ve also grouped our Coronavirus articles into a new menu item, Coronavirus for Christians. You can see all of our coronavirus-related articles listed there for now.
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