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Faith-based Organizations
COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Treatment
Posters to create awareness around available treatment options for certain people who test positive for COVID-19.
Support for those that tested positive or exposed
Care Resource Coordination (CRC) is a program for people who were exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19 and need support to isolate or quarantine safely.
Support public health in Virginia on social media! Find social media shareables and popular images to share on your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Factors to Consider
For many faith traditions, gathering together for worship is at the heart of what it means to be a community of faith.
Individuals should consider their personal risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 before attending an in-person worship service. Attending an indoor service, including services with singing, is generally considered safe for someone who is up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.
When determining your personal level of risk, here are some factors to consider:
Vaccination Status
The best way to protect yourself and others in a worship setting is to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. If you are gathering with people you know, encourage them to be up to date as well.
Level of COVID-19 spread in the community
COVID-19 Hospital Admission Levels are classified as low, medium, or high. These can help individuals and communities decide which prevention actions they can take to protect themselves and others.
Your own health status
Your own health status, such as whether you have a weakened immune system or have a medical condition that places you at high risk of having severe illness.
Consider also if you live with or will be having social contact with someone who is at high risk of having severe illness.
Consider self-testing to detect infection before any contact with them, especially when the COVID-19 Community Level is medium or high.
Additional Considerations
Singing and playing wind instruments are thought to be higher risk activities for spreading COVID-19. Maintaining distance between musicians and increasing the ventilation (or rehearsing/performing outside) can reduce this risk.
Outdoor or drive-in services are considered safer options for individuals who are not up to date on vaccinations or who have compromised immune systems.
Best Practices
Faith-based organizations should consider following VDH Recommendations for Businesses and other Establishments (PDF) (3 pp, 635 KB) for layered prevention strategies to prevent COVID-19.
- CDC Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidance (PDF) (3 pp, 631 KB)
- EPA Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- EPA Water Quality in Closed/Reduced-use Buildings (PDF) (5 pp, 229 KB)
- Virginia Partners in Prayer & Prevention continues to work with, support and be a resource to our places of worship, faith-based and interfaith communities. Questions about COVID-19 and faith-based organizations can be addressed to OHE@vdh.virginia.gov
- Request cloth masks from the Virginia Partners in Prayer & Prevention program
Resources and Information
Vaccination
To protect everyone in your congregation, encourage vaccination. Encourage all community members to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines by going to Vaccinate.Virginia.gov or calling 1-877-VAX-IN-VA.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Everyone aged six months or older is eligible to receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Vaccination hesitancy:
Tele-Town Halls
VDH is offering providers a FREE tele-health platform, presentation templates and all the technical support you need to communicate with your patients about vaccine hesitancy.
COVID-19 Signage Toolkit
Robust flyers, posters and print-outs to support businesses, schools, and organizations: handwashing, distance, hand sanitizer, feeling sick, carpooling, grocery, table-toppers, stickers, + more.
Treatments
COVID-19 treatments can help prevent severe illness in high-risk patients to help keep them out of the hospital. Learn about your medication options if you are at high risk for developing severe disease [Español].
CDC Isolation Calculator
A tool to help determine how long you need to isolate to prevent spreading COVID-19.
Deaf + Hard of Hearing Resources
Last Updated: September 7, 2023
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