Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Dear Praise Family,

The novel corona-virus (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly and is now considered a pandemic, with major impact across the globe and in the United States. The state of Connecticut has declared a State Health emergency and well over 150 schools have already closed, including Barkhamsted. Though most people will experience milder flu-like symptoms, the potential danger to the elderly and health compromised population should not be ignored.

It is generally considered that the best response is “Social Distancing.” To this end, Praise will at this time be going to an online service.

TO BE CLEAR, WE WILL NOT BE PHYSICALLY MEETING AT PRAISE THIS SUNDAY MARCH 15TH.

We will continue to update everyone, so please stay tuned for information on how to connect online. Meanwhile, please read the following information about how to respond to this situation appropriately.

1. PRAY! Pray for a working vaccine, for critical patients, and for overworked doctors and nurses.

Right now, researchers are working on developing a vaccine. We should persist in our prayerful hope that the hard work of researchers globally will yield working vaccines. Let's join in prayer that several of these vaccines will pass human trials, that they will be rapidly approved by the various government bureaucracies (like the FDA in the U.S.) and become available to the elderly and immuno-compromised individuals across the globe.

Let's also pray for the patients across the world who are reliant on ventilators while they recover, and for the many overworked doctors and nurses, that God would provide them with supernatural strength and protection from illness.

2. Wash those hands!

The best defense against respiratory viruses is frequent hand-washing with soap and water, but studies show that only 5% of people do it properly. Pick a favorite 20-second hand washing song, commit to singing it at the sink more frequently than you normally would, and become more conscious of how frequently you touch your face, mouth, and nose.

3. Practice "social distancing."

Resist the urge to hug, kiss, and shake hands with your family and friends. Try a fist bump or another innovative greeting instead. These new practices are sure to provide fodder for new jokes and light moments in our community.

This may feel awkward and overbearing at first - it's helpful to remember that "keeping your distance" during a pandemic is not the same as panicking, hoarding supplies, or locking yourself into a proverbial bunker. Instead, it's a way to show loving concern for the very young and elderly members of your family and friends, who would have a harder time getting through a bout of illness that you would.

4. Stay home if you're sick.

The symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea or diarrhea. What does this mean for you? If you have any flu-like symptoms at all (even a slight sniffle that feels like a common cold), stay home and call your doctor! Don't "push through," mask your symptoms with medicine, and bring your germs to school, work, or church. Again, staying home and seeking qualified medical advice is part of showing loving concern for the very young and elderly people in your life.

5. Prepare for disruptions to your daily life.

Numerous universities and school districts across the United States and Western Europe have shut down or are preparing to shut down or switch to virtual/online learning. Large corporations are sending their employees home to telecommute, as well. This has already begun in our area.

Resist the urge to stock up on bottled water, toilet paper, or bleach - rest assured that clean water will continue flowing to your pipes in the midst of an outbreak, and remember that soap and water are just as effective as harsh chemicals. Instead of hoarding unnecessary supplies, make sure that all of your family members' medical prescriptions are filled, and you have enough non-perishable food in your home to sustain yourselves during a two-week quarantine.

6. Promote good hygiene at home, church and elsewhere.

Though we will not be meeting at the church building this week, even when we do get back together there are important considerations for the near future. Everyone preparing food should wash their hands thoroughly before engaging in meal prep. Wear disposable gloves - these will help you remember not to touch your face while serving others. Consider temporarily serving only prepackaged foods rather than home-cooked meals. Everyone in the church should wash their hands before serving themselves, to avoid spreading germs on food service utensils.

Once we get back together, promote cleanliness throughout the church building by volunteering to clean and sanitize all food tables, kitchen counters, handles, doorknobs, and stairwell banisters in the church before and after the weekly service.

7. Support one another

If some of our members or regular attenders are home bound or quarantined, we, of course, want to help meet the daily needs, such as shopping or preparing meals. Of course, we are always available for prayer! Feel free to contact us at any time by email through the website https://www.praisect.org/contact or phone 860-738-9039. Please do not hesitate.

The leadership of Praise is committed to keeping our immediate and greater communities safe. The measures we have undertaken and those which we are preparing for the future are meant to be appropriate and cautious. But let’s not walk in fear! We trust in the living God in whose hand is each of our lives. In a society that has largely lost active, committed faith in the God of the Bible, people often live in a state of continual anxiety about their lives. Not us! We walk in trust. We live in a continual state of gratitude for God’s protection and care. And we know that nothing...not even sickness or death... can separate us from God’s love. So... stay joyful and relaxed but live wisely. Consider the suggestions listed above. Ultimately, this too will pass! Remember we have a great and benevolent God who watches over us!

The Elders at Praise,
Travis Boucher
Mike Eldred
Tom Palmer
Mike Sosnicki

You’ll find the most current information on COVID-19 at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html