Health and Safety Guidelines and Recommendations

 

At its March 29th meeting, Church Council received the following recommendation regarding the use of face masks in worship and other church gatherings:  

 

Based on the latest CDC guidelines, the current levels of Covid positive cases, new Covid admissions, and % of staffed inpatient beds in use with confirmed Covid patients in our 7 county Trauma Service Area, the Council Executive Team and the church staff have recommended that masks be optional for all gatherings at Friends Church, including worship.

 

Church Council voted unanimously to accept this recommendation, effective immediately.  The current CDC guidelines indicate that areas in the Low or Moderate category can be mask optional, while universal masking is recommended during times when we fall into the High category.

 

We continue to monitor the CDC data of our 7-county Brazos Valley Trauma Service Area (TSA-N).  This area covers Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington Counties.  The TSA-N data is updated weekly, and we maintain a rolling two-week average.  We will continue to monitor this data, as well as any updated CDC guidelines, adjusting protocols as needed.

 

Currently TSA-N falls in the LOW category.

 

If conditions change, we may move back to a ‘masks required’ policy. We encourage you to continue to wear a mask if you are not vaccinated or have additional medical needs, and we respect each person’s choice based on your level of comfort. We will also be making higher-quality N95 or KN95 masks available at the church entrances should you need or desire one. Thank you for continuing to care for one another and our community.