Preparedness for covid-19

My Friends -

As the coronavirus Covid-19 situation continues to unfold, our goal as a Parish is to be prepared and not anxious.

This email outlines (broadly) who is likely to be at risk of getting sick because of the virus; medical care if quarantined or self-isolating; and resources (national, state, and local) to answer questions and provide suggestions of things to do to be prepared in advance.

If you are self-isolating or become quarantined, please call the Parish Office at 508 693-0332 and let us know this.  If needed, we will put together a team to shop for you, run errands, and provide general support to you and your family during this time.

Please read the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) flyer on People at Risk of Serious Illness from Covid-19 (click here) or download it as an attachment to this post.

The CDC describes peopple who are at higher risk of getting very sick from Covid-19 as including:

• Older adults
• People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Lung disease
• Persons with compromised immune systems are also in this category.

If you fit one or more of these criteria, please follow the CDC's preparation guidance in the above-mentioned flyer (click here).

If you self-isolate or become quarantined, let your medical provider know immediately.  Self-isolating and quarantine do not mean that medical treatment stops:  call your medical provider, who is then responsible for your medical care.  If symptoms of the virus develop, she or he will direct the course of your treatment, as they would with any other medical issue.

On the Island, our Town Health Officials, First Responders, and the Hospital have been working to develop a response plan to the Covid-19 virus; I have been in touch to make sure Grace Church's plan is in conformity with theirs.  Please visit the Town of Tisbury's website (click here) and see the attached Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet prepared by the Martha's Vineyard Hospital for more information on our local response.

Going forward, reliable sources of information are the Centers for Disease Control (CDC); the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; and the Town of Tisbury website.

Grace Church has already implemented a number of preparedness measures to reduce the risk of transmission of Covid-19.  We have a plan of phased steps we will take if the risk of infection on the Vineyard increases.

These are challenging times.  Our faith, and experience of coming through other adversities will help.  Remember that this is a virus and that we can take measures together to mitigate its spread. 

Let us take a deep breath, exhale, and carry on together.

God bless you,

Stephen+

cdc_people_at_higher_risk_covid-19.pdf
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mvh_covid-19_faqs.pdf
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