Trinity Covid-19 Health and Safety Procedures

Dear Trinity Community

Guide to In-person Worship during Covid as of October 2021

Welcome to in-person worship service.  We have missed each and every one of you. 

We ask that you please be respectful of everyone around you.  Some people may be feeling cautions and some less cautions. Wherever you are, please remember, we want to keep Trinity a safe place to worship.

TRINITY TOP TEN TO REMEMBER  *regardless of your vaccine status

  1. MASKS – Masks will be mandatory – Please bring your own. A limited number will be available if you forget yours at home.
  2. ENTRANCE – Enter the church through the Front Door only – Ferguson Street
  3. TIME – Doors open at 10 am – No early entrance permitted. Doors locked at 10:30 no late admission.
  4. CLEAN HANDS – Wash hands before leaving home and hand sanitize upon entering the church. We also request that you hand sanitize when you leave the church.
  5. RECORD KEEPING – Attendance records will be kept for contact tracing* purposes only.
  6. CHILDREN’S PROGRAM – We are hoping to begin Sunday School soon and we will be reviewing public health guidelines to help us keep the children safe.  We would love you to bring your children but please be prepared to keep them with you and seated during the service.  Ushers will have activity kits available.
  7. WASHROOMS – Washrooms are open with limited capacity. 
  8. GUIDANCE – Greeter and Ushers will provide guidance and direction. Please follow their instructions.
  9. VISITING – Coffee Time is still on hold, however if you want to visit, please maintain the 6 feet physical distance with your mask on.
  10. SICK – If you are sick or feeling unwell, please stay home. **The Worship service will still be available online YouTube or Cogeco’s YourTV Channel 12 (700HD) the following Sunday at 8 am and 3 pm.

Trinity United Church will be following the guidelines from North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit. Policies can change, and we will inform the congregation of these changes.

WITHIN DOCUMENT (see explanation at bottom of document)

*Contact Tracing Explanation

** Health Testing Explanation

CAPACITY OF THE SANCTUARY

The capacity of Trinity United Church will be limited to the number of people who can maintain 2 metre physical distance.  We ask when you arrive at church that you stay within your social circle.

SELF-SCREENING

Perform a self-screening prior to coming to the church.

  1. If you have any of the following symptoms that are not related to other known causes or conditions you already have:
  2. Fever and/or chills
  3. Cough or barking cough (croup)
  4. Shortness of Breath
  5. Decrease or loss of Taste or Smell
  6. Muscle aches/joint pain
  7. Extreme tiredness
  • In the last 10 days, have you been identified as a “close contact” of someone who currently has COVID-19?
  • Have you been in close contact with someone who is sick or has confirmed COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
  • Have you returned from travelling outside Canada in the past 14 days and been told to quarantine? 

If you answered YES to any of these questions, do not enter the church & self-isolate right away. Call Telehealth 1- 866-797-0000, your healthcare provider, or a COVID-19 Assessment Centre at the North Bay Regional Health Centre at 705.474.8600 ext. 4110 to find out if you need a test.**

PRIOR TO COMING

  • Perform a Self-Screening.
  • Masks are mandatory. Please bring your own mask and wear it at all times.
  • Wash your hands prior to coming to church.
  • Although the church will have hand sanitizer, we request that you also bring your own to keep in your purse or pocket.
  • The washrooms will be open with very limited number of people allowed in at the same time.
  • If you are not feeling well, have a temperature over 37.5C, or are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or any illness, or you have been exposed to a case of COVID-19, you may not under any circumstances attend.  Please join our on-line service on YouTube or Cogeco’s YourTV Channel 12 (700HD) the following Sunday at 8am and 3 pm

WHEN ARRIVING FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP

  • Please note we will be open at 10 am.  No early arrivals will be permitted to enter.
  • You must wear a face mask prior to entering the church out of concern for each other.
  • Upon entry, we ask you to immediately sanitize your hands with the sanitizer that is provided.
  • You will be greeted at the door and your name* will be recorded.  Please remember that our greeters & ushers are now frontline volunteers, please help keep them safe by allowing them to direct you as required by our social distancing protocols.
  • Entry will be up one set of stairs. At the top you will be greeted by an usher who will seat you.
  • Families who are already sharing the same household or “social bubble” are permitted to sit together.
  • The lift will be available.  There is a limit of one operator and one person at a time.
  • A 2 metre distance between people must be maintained when entering the church. Families and households living at the same residence may remain together.
  • If you have brought with you your Sunday Offering envelope or donation, you are asked hold on to it until the end of the service and deposit it in the offering plates as you exit.
  • There will be no bulletin given out, parts of the service will be projected at the front of the church.
  • When arriving at the building, we know that you will be excited to see your friends you haven’t seen in a while. Please remember to keep your distance (2m), and refrain from shaking hands, embracing or hugging.

DURING SUNDAY WORSHIP

  • If at any time during church, you begin to feel ill, we ask you to leave immediately.**
  • Please keep your mask on for the duration of service.
  • You will be allowed to sing softly while wearing your mask.
  • A two-metre distance between people must be maintained during the service. Families and households living at the same residence may sit together.
  • There will be no hymn books available, hymn lyrics will be projected at the front of the church.
  • Rev. Ted will deliver his sermon without a mask and will be maintaining more than a 2 metre distance from the congregation.  If you are uncomfortable with this, we suggest that you sit in an area farther away from the front.
  • Infants and children must remain seated with their parents or guardians at all times.  An activity package is available from the ushers.

AFTER SUNDAY WORSHIP

  • The Ushers will direct you on how to leave the Sanctuary. Please follow their directions so we don’t have any congestion when leaving.
  • Please maintain a 2-metre distance with others as you are leaving.
  • Deposit your Church Offering envelope or donation in the offering plates while you are exiting.
  • Sanitize your hands prior to leaving.

WASHROOMS

  • Only one person will be allowed in a washroom at a time. (1 adult or 1 adult and 1 child)
  • Please wash hands with warm, soapy water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
  • Use paper towel to dry your hands and then use the paper towel to shut off the water tap.
  • Use the paper towel to open the door.
  • Dispose of the paper towel in the garbage outside the door.

Trinity United Church North Bay

COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccine Policy

October 1, 2021

Trinity United Church is committed to providing all members of the Trinity community with a healthy and safe environment and to fulfilling its responsibility to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the surrounding community. To this end, as of November 1, 2021, we are implementing a Proof of Vaccination Policy in accordance with the requirements outlined by the Province of Ontario, conscious of the fact that we are currently exceeding our legal requirement and following the recommendation of North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit which encourages businesses to create their own vaccine policies.

Application

This policy applies to all staff, volunteers and user groups participating in any group activities or meetings within the church effective November 1 2021.

Exempted Activities

Activities that will be excluded from this policy include;

  • Worship in the sanctuary (including funerals and weddings)
  • Food Shelf and Infant Food Shelf services (in take-out format)
  • AA and affiliated groups
  • Contractors, individuals visiting or meeting with a staff member that are not part of a larger group

Vaccination Requirement

All individuals attending any activities, not exempted above, who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and to provide proof of vaccination satisfactory to Trinity United Church, subject to the provisions set out below. For the purpose of this Policy, “fully vaccinated” means that the Individual has received the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine or combination of COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (two doses of a two-dose vaccine series or one dose of a single-dose vaccine series), and at least 14 days have passed since the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was administered.

In addition to these vaccination requirements, COVID-19 public health protocols will remain in effect, which may include but are not limited to limitations on screening requirements, physical distancing, the use of masks or other face coverings, hand hygiene and sanitation protocols, which activities are permitted, and limitations on gatherings as appropriate. Trinity United Church will periodically review and update these protocols based on evolving provincial requirements and public health guidance, but reserves the right to implement public health protocols that exceed those mandated by the Province or public health officials.

It is the discretion of the individual to determine whether they choose to be vaccinated or to disclose their vaccination status. Should they make the decision not to be vaccinated or to not divulge their vaccine status, they will not be permitted to participate in non-exempted activities. 

Vaccination Exemptions

Trinity United Church will consider, on an individual case-by-case basis, requests for exemption from the vaccination requirement set out above based on medical or other grounds protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code as outlined here Proof of COVID-19 vaccination | COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Any individual or group who fails or refuses to comply with the requirements of this vaccination Policy or other covid 19 safety guidelines outlined by Trinity United Church will be denied access to the non-exempted activities as outlined above.

Collection, Use and Storage of Information

Information regarding an Individual’s vaccination status and/or whether they have an approved exemption from the vaccine requirement may be disclosed to authorized Group leaders for the purpose of administering and ensuring compliance with this Policy.

Duration and Review of Policy

This COVID-19 Vaccination Policy may be reviewed and updated at any time to ensure that the measures outlined remain appropriate in the circumstances and are consistent with provincial requirements and the guidance and recommendations of public health officials.

Procedure

Any individual may submit or show proof of vaccination to a designated Trinity vaccine verification compliance officer to be recorded and kept on file for future reference. Once Trinity United Church has documented an individual’s vaccine status they will not need to show it upon each entry unless requested by a group leader who is unaware of the individual’s vaccine status.

Additional Resources

COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate Program – North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (myhealthunit.ca)

How to download your vaccine status

View, print and download your vaccine certificate/receipt by going to covid19.ontariohealth.ca and following the prompts. Don’t forget your health card!

If you have a red and white health card, contact the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 and a call centre agent can email you a copy of your receipt.

If you are having trouble with the online process, call our COVID-19 Call Centre at 1-844-478-1400 and a call centre agent can email you a copy of your receipt. A printed copy can be picked up at the North Bay or Parry Sound office. Please allow one business day if requesting a printed copy of your vaccine receipt.

Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Businesses and Organizations under the Reopening Ontario Act (gov.on.ca)

QA Document (gov.on.ca)

COVID-19 | Canadian Shield (canadianshieldrc.ca)

Ontario Releasing Guidance to Support Proof of Vaccination Policy | Ontario Newsroom

New Requirement for Proof of Vaccination in Certain Settings: Frequently Asked Questions | Ontario Newsroom

CONTACT INFORMATION

We are wanting to keep our contact information up to date.  Even if you think we have your correct information we ask you please email trinitynorthbay@gmail.com the following information:

First & Last Name (yourself and your family who lives with you including children)

Mailing address

City, Prov, Postal Code

Phone number/Mobile Phone number for all family members who have a phone

Email Address for all family members who have an email address

Lastly, we are doing our best with all the many restrictions placed upon us.  We ask that you continue to be patient as things may be a little different than what you are accustomed to.  Please follow the guidelines presented and respect our volunteers who are now placed in the front line.  Let us come together to worship and praise God.

* Contact Tracing. Contact tracing is a process that is used to identify individuals who have had close contact with someone who is infected with the virus.  Our Greeters will complete a sign-in sheet for every person who comes into our building, include the name, date, and phone number.  Any personal information that is collected for COVID-19 contract tracing can only be used for this purpose.  Records will only be kept for 30 days, and then shredded.

**IMPORTANT: If you suddenly feel ill, start coughing or sneezing, please leave the church for the health and safety of others. If within 14 days of attending church, you learn that you or someone in your family who attended with you has tested positive for COVID-19, you are asked to:

  1. Contact Telehealth Ontario at 1.866.797.0000, your health care provider, or a COVID-19 Assessment Centre at the North Bay Regional Health Centre at 705.474.8600 ext. 4110.
  2. Contact the church office at 705.474.3310 or by email at trinitynorthbay@gmail.com

Your identity will not be revealed to anyone other than the Public Health Authority, and only to ensure that the spread is contained.

Trinity United Church will be following the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit guidelines and policies which can change and we will inform the congregation of these changes.

CONTACT INFORMATION

We are wanting to keep our contact information up to date.  Even if you think we have your correct information we ask you please email trinitynorthbay@gmail.com the following information:

First & Last Name (yourself and your family who lives with you including children)

Mailing address

City, Prov, Postal Code

Phone number/Mobile Phone number for all family members who have a phone

Email Address for all family members who have an email address

APPOINTMENTS

We request that if you need to come to the church other than on a Sunday that you make an appointment with the office.  We will need you to sign in at the office with your name and phone number as we have to keep a record of people in the church on a day to day basis for contact tracing*.

WEDDINGS & FUNERALS

Weddings and Funerals are now permitted with the same capacity of 80 in the church.  The same procedure will have to be followed as the above guidelines.  All contract tracing* protocols will need to be followed.

BAPTISMS

Please contact the church office for more information.