Our COVID-19 Safety Plan, March 2022

Introduction  

The church plans to operate in a manner that keeps people safe but also allows them to worship and participate without distraction or fear. All meeting conditions laid out by the territory and federal governments will be adhered to. On Sundays, there will be a COVID Safe Warden, the Lead Host for the day, who will ensure this plan is acted upon.   

Contact Details and Check-in 

  • People who attend C3 Church Watson services or gatherings are not required to use the Check in CBR.  

  • Some people may be asked some basic questions concerning flu symptoms and whether or not they are unwell. Should they be unwell they may be refused entry. 

  • People will choose seating according to their needs i.e. people sharing the same residence may sit together.  

Seating capacity 

  • There will be reduced seating capacity in the Auditorium to allow people to maintain a distance apart of 1.5 metres, except for people who live in the same residence. 

  • Maximum numbers for each meeting space are currently not in place. 

  • Masks may be worn indoors. 

  • Clear floor markings will show standpoints for entrance to Kids Church  

  • Signage will be in place to remind people about appropriate distancing. 

  • Traffic flow is currently not limited. 

  • Seating will be monitored in the Parents’ Room. 

  • Distancing will be modelled on stage by the church leaders and the worship team. 

General Hygiene 

  • Hand sanitiser dispensers are located in every space in the building. 

  • Greetings may involve physical contact. 

  • All surfaces, equipment and frequent touch points will be identified and wiped between  services. 

  • People will be instructed not to attend services if they are unwell. 

  • Offering buckets will remain at stations at the rear of the Auditorium for placement of offering and information cards as people leave. 

  • The celebration of communion will utilise single pack emblems. 

  • Microphones will be sanitised  after each service.  

Welcome and Host Teams 

  • Doors at the front entrance, the Auditorium, the Kids Church and the toilets will be propped open until the service starts. 

  • Entry to church will be through a clearly designated entry point, then through the foyer as normal and the door second nearest to the welcome desk will act as the exit point. 

  • Only the outer doors to the Auditorium will be shut at the commencement of the service. 

  • A single team member will control the opening and closing of the Auditorium doors after the commencement of the service to eliminate multiple people touching door handles.  

  • People handling money will wear gloves and sanitise all surfaces used for the counting processes. 

  • As stated above, offering and response cards are to be collected in buckets as people leave the auditorium (to reduce handling of buckets). 

Café volunteers 

Café will operate under the following conditions: 

  • Hand hygiene is to be maintained at all times; 

  • Hand sanitisers will be freely available;  

  • Gloves are to be worn while serving; 

  • Water will be poured into cups by those serving - there will be no communal water; 

  • All cups served are single use only; and 

  • All devices including iPad, square reader and EFTPOS machines are to be wiped down and sanitised before and after use. 

Kids church & Youth 

Kids church to enter through the normal doors. 

  • Hand sanitiser will be freely available both outside and inside the Kids church. 

  • Children and volunteers may have their health checked prior to entering rooms. 

  • All children are to wash or sanitise hands prior to entering rooms. 

  • If food is served, hand hygiene is to be maintained by volunteers when cutting up and serving food. 

  • Parents are to keep sick children at home. 

  • All surfaces will be washed with detergent and wiped with sanitising spray after each service. 

  • Children or Youth who are not compliant with directives regarding hand hygiene will not be permitted to participate in programs. 

  • Youth gatherings will be allowed without restriction, but social distancing remains a requirement as stipulated by the ACT government Altar ministry 

  • Prayer will occur without the laying on of hands and appropriate social distancing shall be practised. 

Production 

  • Microphones will be used by a single person and then sanitised.

Group gatherings 

For those who are going to live host their groups, please: 

  • Provide hand sanitiser at the door; 

  • Provide hand washing facilities and one-use only paper towels for drying hands. 

  • Use disposable cups for tea (tea bags only) and coffee (coffee bags or capsules); 

  • Wipe down coffee machine and kettle after each use with sanitary wipes; 

  • Use gloves when handling food; and 

  • Take all appropriate measures to reduce multiple people touching utensils, plates and cups. 

General 

No pressure will be exerted on members to return to church. It is an individual’s decision based on her/his comfort and needs. Any person with symptoms resembling those of influenza should self-isolate and seek medical advice. People with flu-like symptoms must not attend church. We want members to be free from fear, but also we all need to exercise common sense.